Archive for May, 2008
Numb will be a Thing of the Past
After getting a tooth extraction, one must deal with the side effect of anesthesia: numbness of the mouth. It’s neither uncomfortable or not, it’s just disturbing that there’s a hanging lip that doesn’t feel quite that it belongs to you. However, things are going to change for the better.
Novalar Pharmaceuticals just got a go signal from the Food and Drugs Administration to market OraVerse, a drug meant to undo the effects of anesthesia. According to them they’ll start selling the drug for $12.50 a shot.
The drug is not recommended to children below 6. Their target market most likely will be children (older than 6 of course) because they tend to accidentally bite their tongue when it’s numb. Another market to tap are those who just got some cosmetic dental work done and who would wish to look great when they leave the dentist’s office.
Dry Sockets
Smoking and tooth extractions don’t mix; and when they do it’s a painful combination. An alveolar osteitis also known as a dry socket occurs when a bone has been exposed in the place where the tooth was taken out.
Usually, a blood clot appears and healing occurs automatically after the dental procedure. However, if the clot is lost partially or prematurely, the bone underneath causes severe pain and throbs as though the tooth ache is still there. This is accompanied by a foul smell in the mouth.
In order to alleviate pain, the dentist usually advises that there will be no sucking through straws, nor rising or smoking for the next 48 to 72 hours.
Dead Jaw Syndrome and Drugs
Dead Jaw Syndrome or Osteonecrosis of the Jaw happens when bone tissue in the jaw fails to heal after a minor trauma like getting your tooth extracted. However, there are some instances that particular drugs that increases the risk of this condition.
Researchers form the University of Southern California School of Dentistry are saying that microbial biofilms are the culprit behind this infection. It was also found out that taking bisphosphonate drugs like Fosamax, Boniva and Actonel makes the infection worse. These drugs are prescribed to patients with osteoporosis. According to one of the researchers:
“Now that we’ve know biofilms are behind the infection of the jaw, we are studying ways to effectively treat or prevent the osteonecrosis.”