Treatment
The pain from alveolar osteitis usually lasts for 24–72 hours. There is no real treatment for alveolar osteitis; it is a self-limiting condition that will improve and disappear with time, but certain interventions can significantly decrease pain during an episode of alveolar osteitis. These interventions usually consist of a gentle rinsing of the inflamed socket followed by the direct placement within the socket of some type of sedative dressing, which soothes the inflamed bone for a period of time and promotes tissue growth. This is usually done without anesthesia. The active ingredients in these sedative dressings usually include substances like, zinc oxide, eugenol, and oil of cloves. It is usually necessary to have this done for two or three consecutive days, although occasionally it can take longer. Because true alveolar osteitis pain is so intense, additional analgesics are sometimes prescribed.
Read more about this topic: Alveolar Osteitis
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