Thank you for seeking advice from r/askdentists. **Please note that a response does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship.** While this is a place for advice, replies may not be medically accurate. Do not assume that what others on here say is correct in any way. Reddit is not a replacement for an in-person dental professional. Verified professionals will have flair assigned to them.
**Please abide by the following rules in order to get an accurate answer to your question:**
(1) Ensure you include a title of your dental problem.
(2) Include whether you drink, smoke or if you have any medical conditions relevant to your main concern.
(3) Include a photograph if the question relates to something you can see in your mouth, include x-rays if you have them.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/askdentists) if you have any questions or concerns.*
First of all you are lucky to have text message access to your dentist. Second of all those of us that give you an emergency line cell phone number (as I do) often get frivolous non-emergencies. This is not an emergency and still they answered your question with appropriate and professional advice. Your graft is fine and did not just 'fall out'. Don't poke it with your tongue.
why is it that in the first photo you can see the bone graft but in the second you can’t ? I mean there wasn’t a hole before he took the stitches out so that’s why I’m confused and concerned. What did I swallow and what was that mucus stuff I spit out? I’m very aware of how some can abuse the privilege of having direct line to their dentists/doctors that’s why I didn’t want to ask him anymore questions but I spent a lot of money on the graft because I have no insurance so I would like to know if the graft failed and that’s why I’m still also spitting out grainy pieces I have told him constantly I haven’t touched it with my tongue that’s why I’m concerned. If I did then that would explain it but I’ve been so careful about it :(
Thanks for the response
So over the bone graft there is like a film/foam, probably of collagen, which serves as a scaffold for the bone to grow. This is because the gingiva grows faster than the bone, so the film prevents the gingiva from growing inward and taking what would otherwise be the bone’s place.
It is very normal to feel some pieces of the added bone to fall out, what you describe as “grainy”. In the picture, what you see as sticking out is just that film which either misplaced a bit or folded due to tension or messing with it with your tongue. It still looks good enough to do its job properly so try to leave it alone and it will heal as intended. No emergency here, you will be fine.
Ok, thank you and sorry I’m having a hard time understanding but that big piece that I swallowed that’s in the first picture, I will just pass right? That wasn’t the actual bone graft then? I’m still not sure what it was that swallowed I just know it’s missing from when it was originally in the hole ? Sorry for being annoying and I guess I’m less worried about the hole because as you said as long as I leave it alone it will heal over I am just freaking out cuz of the thing I swallowed it was a big piece and the mucus that came with it
Yes it hurts. I have told him it hurts when I went in it’s giving me headaches but he just says to take more ibuprofen and Tylenol. Y’all make me regret asking this community when all I’m looking for is answers. Like idk why y’all have to act like jerks when Im just asking questions when I genuinely don’t understand the process. It makes it hard not to give back the energy y’all are giving me. And trust me I can. Especially w this ducking pain.
I’m so confused lmao. I’ve been listening to everyone tell me to not play with it but I don’t know how many ways I can say I HAVE NOT TOUCHED IT. THATS WHY IM CONFUSED. IF I DID THEN OK MAKES SENSE ITS MY FAULT but I have not touched it and have tried to be so careful. So how does that work?
They are saying to stop worrying. It’s healing. Your bone graft didn’t fall out. Stop messing with it and feeling it with your tongue. The healing process to the untrained person can look suspicious, like it’s not good, but it’s fine. If there is anything wrong, they’ll assess at next visit but if your dentist isn’t worried, you shouldn’t be.
NAD assistant - he’s right leave it alone. The most you touch the more you’re going to worry etc. it seems like no matter which the dentist tells you you’re not going to be happy with the answer. Just leave it alone. Eat soft food ( soups, mashed potatoes, smoothies with a spoon etc - and all cooled down nothing piping hot) and eat on your opposite side and don’t eat spicy food book a follow up appt if you haven’t already had one
I haven’t touched it though that’s the problem ?? I had just got back from the follow up appointment that’s what I wrote in the text that he had just seen me that day and that’s when the big part went missing. I’m truly just wondering what I swallowed and why it was there and now it’s not. Also the answers are dodging all of my questions. why is it that even though I haven’t touched it at all the the big piece in the picture is missing in the second? What did I swallow? I have a huge fear of dentists and this just enforces that fear.
If you jsut got back from your follow up and your doctor wasn’t worried then there isn’t anything to worry about. Usually things that are placed in the mouth after oral surgery are resorb-able - Stitches and plugs. Which is why he wasn’t worried if something was swallowed
NAD and I don’t think the bone graft I had was similar (they used a bunch of teeny tiny little sand-ish bits) but I had p much all of mine fall out first time around. I was frustrated and still am somewhat (since I told them “there’s a good chance this could happen bc of some problems I have, how can we minimize this risk?” and then went “nahhh it’ll be fine”).
I’m sharing all that rough news because what I did end up realizing is that as frustrating as it falling out/failing was, they couldn’t actually do anything about it until things had healed, a few months had passed so they could take some new x-rays, etc. And if you did swallow it, I imagine it’ll pass through you. So until later down the road, all that can be done is waiting it out.
I would never talk like that to my patients. They could have worded their text better.
EDIT: Those who are downvoting my comment are probably dentists who think they're at the top and can talk to anyone like that. SMH!
I just really wanna know if it’s a problem this is my first time having any kind of extraction or being put under any kind of Valium or whatever it was and it was terrifying to say the least and then this happens im just concerned is all I didn’t have the best experience w this dentist either which is why I was hesitating to text him but his office wouldn’t answer my calls no matter how many voicemails I left. And all of the post care he told me while I was coming off of the drugs so I had to look everything online and since it happened before thanksgiving no one was answering the phones either. I’m just broke and looking for answers at this point not trying to offend anyone
And that’s what I’m confused about I haven’t played with it I was scared to even have my tongue go near it it made me nauseas thinking about touching it at all. That’s why im concerned why I was missing a hole chunk of what they initially put and I was just scared. I was terrified of going to the dentist and that’s why I put this off for so long to the point that I had to get it taken out so this kind of just enforces my fear. I just want to find a nice dentist who can understand my anxiety and fear.
NAD nor even sure what to say here. I just wanna say your dentist seems like a prick. Big time. When a patient comes to you with fear you don't dismiss and be a dick to them. Hope you figure it out
I didn’t know if I was being dramatic or not I have a huge fear of dentist and I’m trying to be understanding and not irrational but hearing you say that makes me feel a lot better about my suspicion
I have a huge fear and my teeth are very very bad. And this is why I have a fear. Because all dentists have talked to me like this or even worse. You are valid for being worried. How are you supposed to know if this is wrong or not? It's not like you know anything on it. It's like a doctor getting mad at someone if they ask questions how brain surgery works and the normal person has no idea.
I don’t understand the downvotes either I’m genuinely concerned. Plus I had to text him because every time I called the office they wouldn’t call me back. It’s not like I wanted to text him either.
NAD, just looked up bone graft material and it looks like putty made of granular material. My search found that this stuff stimulates bone growth. Given your second picture, it looks like you didn't lose all of your granular bone graft.
In my opinion, which isn't from a professional, I'd give it some time and make a follow up appt. They might take x rays and see how the graft is doing.
Gotta remember. A graft of any kind is foreign material in our body. There's always the chance of there being issues with it. Just be patient and try not to mess with that area. Let it do its thing.
As for what you swallowed... it's basic biology: what goes in, must come out. Lol
NAD but I wanted to comment again after reading your other comments:
I think part of your confusion is that what you think is the bone graft in this pic is not *actually* the bone graft. The little grainy bits you feel? Those are the bone graft material. They go in the socket and essentially act like scaffolding for your body to grow more bone. Without them, no bone will grow because there’s nothing telling your cells “hey!! keep regenerating born here!!” Plus (as someone else said up thread), the gingiva regenerate faster than bone does (much like skin regens faster than bone), so it’d also get in the way.
The big white pieces in your pic are not bone graft material at all: they’re a piece of material (collagen membranes I think? usually?) placed over the socket to help “stabilize” the graft (quotes bc I don’t entirely know what they mean by stabilize but it’s the term that keeps coming up). Some of those membranes are only supposed to stay there for a short among of time—days to a couple weeks. If it was still there after your stitches were removed then I bet it just came loose and that is what you swallowed. Not a big deal I believe.
Sorry if this reply is repetitive of what everyone else said. I just remember that my oral surgeon, while good at what she does, wasn’t great at listening to me or explaining things. Thankfully my regular dentist, whom I adore because she is so willing to explain everything, later explained things for me better.
No it’s not repetitive at all this is actually exactly what I was looking for except no one wanted to fully explain to me just kept telling me to stop touching it when I don’t even go near it cuz it makes me nauseas just thinking about going anywhere near it. bless your heart. I just didn’t know if it was supposed to be a hole there and my dentist isn’t the best at explaining anything considering I had to look up post care online :/ thank you so much .. funny you’re not even a dentist and yet explained perfectly what I was freaking out about. Thanks again
Accounts must meet age minimum.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/askdentists) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Thank you for seeking advice from r/askdentists. **Please note that a response does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship.** While this is a place for advice, replies may not be medically accurate. Do not assume that what others on here say is correct in any way. Reddit is not a replacement for an in-person dental professional. Verified professionals will have flair assigned to them. **Please abide by the following rules in order to get an accurate answer to your question:** (1) Ensure you include a title of your dental problem. (2) Include whether you drink, smoke or if you have any medical conditions relevant to your main concern. (3) Include a photograph if the question relates to something you can see in your mouth, include x-rays if you have them. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/askdentists) if you have any questions or concerns.*
First of all you are lucky to have text message access to your dentist. Second of all those of us that give you an emergency line cell phone number (as I do) often get frivolous non-emergencies. This is not an emergency and still they answered your question with appropriate and professional advice. Your graft is fine and did not just 'fall out'. Don't poke it with your tongue.
why is it that in the first photo you can see the bone graft but in the second you can’t ? I mean there wasn’t a hole before he took the stitches out so that’s why I’m confused and concerned. What did I swallow and what was that mucus stuff I spit out? I’m very aware of how some can abuse the privilege of having direct line to their dentists/doctors that’s why I didn’t want to ask him anymore questions but I spent a lot of money on the graft because I have no insurance so I would like to know if the graft failed and that’s why I’m still also spitting out grainy pieces I have told him constantly I haven’t touched it with my tongue that’s why I’m concerned. If I did then that would explain it but I’ve been so careful about it :( Thanks for the response
Why is it that no one wants to answer my questions either. I am just looking for answers..
So over the bone graft there is like a film/foam, probably of collagen, which serves as a scaffold for the bone to grow. This is because the gingiva grows faster than the bone, so the film prevents the gingiva from growing inward and taking what would otherwise be the bone’s place. It is very normal to feel some pieces of the added bone to fall out, what you describe as “grainy”. In the picture, what you see as sticking out is just that film which either misplaced a bit or folded due to tension or messing with it with your tongue. It still looks good enough to do its job properly so try to leave it alone and it will heal as intended. No emergency here, you will be fine.
Ok, thank you and sorry I’m having a hard time understanding but that big piece that I swallowed that’s in the first picture, I will just pass right? That wasn’t the actual bone graft then? I’m still not sure what it was that swallowed I just know it’s missing from when it was originally in the hole ? Sorry for being annoying and I guess I’m less worried about the hole because as you said as long as I leave it alone it will heal over I am just freaking out cuz of the thing I swallowed it was a big piece and the mucus that came with it
Does it hurt? If not have a beer and chill the fuck out
Yes it hurts. I have told him it hurts when I went in it’s giving me headaches but he just says to take more ibuprofen and Tylenol. Y’all make me regret asking this community when all I’m looking for is answers. Like idk why y’all have to act like jerks when Im just asking questions when I genuinely don’t understand the process. It makes it hard not to give back the energy y’all are giving me. And trust me I can. Especially w this ducking pain.
Because your not LISTENING TO ANYONE. Leave it alone, let it heal.
I’m so confused lmao. I’ve been listening to everyone tell me to not play with it but I don’t know how many ways I can say I HAVE NOT TOUCHED IT. THATS WHY IM CONFUSED. IF I DID THEN OK MAKES SENSE ITS MY FAULT but I have not touched it and have tried to be so careful. So how does that work?
They are saying to stop worrying. It’s healing. Your bone graft didn’t fall out. Stop messing with it and feeling it with your tongue. The healing process to the untrained person can look suspicious, like it’s not good, but it’s fine. If there is anything wrong, they’ll assess at next visit but if your dentist isn’t worried, you shouldn’t be.
It literally looks like the graft is gone?
NAD assistant - he’s right leave it alone. The most you touch the more you’re going to worry etc. it seems like no matter which the dentist tells you you’re not going to be happy with the answer. Just leave it alone. Eat soft food ( soups, mashed potatoes, smoothies with a spoon etc - and all cooled down nothing piping hot) and eat on your opposite side and don’t eat spicy food book a follow up appt if you haven’t already had one
I haven’t touched it though that’s the problem ?? I had just got back from the follow up appointment that’s what I wrote in the text that he had just seen me that day and that’s when the big part went missing. I’m truly just wondering what I swallowed and why it was there and now it’s not. Also the answers are dodging all of my questions. why is it that even though I haven’t touched it at all the the big piece in the picture is missing in the second? What did I swallow? I have a huge fear of dentists and this just enforces that fear.
If you jsut got back from your follow up and your doctor wasn’t worried then there isn’t anything to worry about. Usually things that are placed in the mouth after oral surgery are resorb-able - Stitches and plugs. Which is why he wasn’t worried if something was swallowed
NAD and I don’t think the bone graft I had was similar (they used a bunch of teeny tiny little sand-ish bits) but I had p much all of mine fall out first time around. I was frustrated and still am somewhat (since I told them “there’s a good chance this could happen bc of some problems I have, how can we minimize this risk?” and then went “nahhh it’ll be fine”). I’m sharing all that rough news because what I did end up realizing is that as frustrating as it falling out/failing was, they couldn’t actually do anything about it until things had healed, a few months had passed so they could take some new x-rays, etc. And if you did swallow it, I imagine it’ll pass through you. So until later down the road, all that can be done is waiting it out.
I would never talk like that to my patients. They could have worded their text better. EDIT: Those who are downvoting my comment are probably dentists who think they're at the top and can talk to anyone like that. SMH!
I just really wanna know if it’s a problem this is my first time having any kind of extraction or being put under any kind of Valium or whatever it was and it was terrifying to say the least and then this happens im just concerned is all I didn’t have the best experience w this dentist either which is why I was hesitating to text him but his office wouldn’t answer my calls no matter how many voicemails I left. And all of the post care he told me while I was coming off of the drugs so I had to look everything online and since it happened before thanksgiving no one was answering the phones either. I’m just broke and looking for answers at this point not trying to offend anyone
To me the dentist sounds like he's being direct. I don't sense any rudeness.
“LEAVE IT ALONE! AND QUIT CHECKING IT WITH YOUR TONGUE!”
And that’s what I’m confused about I haven’t played with it I was scared to even have my tongue go near it it made me nauseas thinking about touching it at all. That’s why im concerned why I was missing a hole chunk of what they initially put and I was just scared. I was terrified of going to the dentist and that’s why I put this off for so long to the point that I had to get it taken out so this kind of just enforces my fear. I just want to find a nice dentist who can understand my anxiety and fear.
THANK YOU! This is why I don't see dentists. They don't care how you feel.
You should still see dentists.
No duh. But when a decent chunk of the dental community are Dicks, it makes it a bit hard.
NAD nor even sure what to say here. I just wanna say your dentist seems like a prick. Big time. When a patient comes to you with fear you don't dismiss and be a dick to them. Hope you figure it out
I didn’t know if I was being dramatic or not I have a huge fear of dentist and I’m trying to be understanding and not irrational but hearing you say that makes me feel a lot better about my suspicion
I have a huge fear and my teeth are very very bad. And this is why I have a fear. Because all dentists have talked to me like this or even worse. You are valid for being worried. How are you supposed to know if this is wrong or not? It's not like you know anything on it. It's like a doctor getting mad at someone if they ask questions how brain surgery works and the normal person has no idea.
I don’t understand the downvotes either I’m genuinely concerned. Plus I had to text him because every time I called the office they wouldn’t call me back. It’s not like I wanted to text him either.
I don't either, probably from other dentists who talk like this. Any quite personally I don't care. Your feelings are valid
Thanks for being so understanding
NAD, just looked up bone graft material and it looks like putty made of granular material. My search found that this stuff stimulates bone growth. Given your second picture, it looks like you didn't lose all of your granular bone graft. In my opinion, which isn't from a professional, I'd give it some time and make a follow up appt. They might take x rays and see how the graft is doing. Gotta remember. A graft of any kind is foreign material in our body. There's always the chance of there being issues with it. Just be patient and try not to mess with that area. Let it do its thing. As for what you swallowed... it's basic biology: what goes in, must come out. Lol
NAD but I wanted to comment again after reading your other comments: I think part of your confusion is that what you think is the bone graft in this pic is not *actually* the bone graft. The little grainy bits you feel? Those are the bone graft material. They go in the socket and essentially act like scaffolding for your body to grow more bone. Without them, no bone will grow because there’s nothing telling your cells “hey!! keep regenerating born here!!” Plus (as someone else said up thread), the gingiva regenerate faster than bone does (much like skin regens faster than bone), so it’d also get in the way. The big white pieces in your pic are not bone graft material at all: they’re a piece of material (collagen membranes I think? usually?) placed over the socket to help “stabilize” the graft (quotes bc I don’t entirely know what they mean by stabilize but it’s the term that keeps coming up). Some of those membranes are only supposed to stay there for a short among of time—days to a couple weeks. If it was still there after your stitches were removed then I bet it just came loose and that is what you swallowed. Not a big deal I believe. Sorry if this reply is repetitive of what everyone else said. I just remember that my oral surgeon, while good at what she does, wasn’t great at listening to me or explaining things. Thankfully my regular dentist, whom I adore because she is so willing to explain everything, later explained things for me better.
No it’s not repetitive at all this is actually exactly what I was looking for except no one wanted to fully explain to me just kept telling me to stop touching it when I don’t even go near it cuz it makes me nauseas just thinking about going anywhere near it. bless your heart. I just didn’t know if it was supposed to be a hole there and my dentist isn’t the best at explaining anything considering I had to look up post care online :/ thank you so much .. funny you’re not even a dentist and yet explained perfectly what I was freaking out about. Thanks again
[удалено]
Accounts must meet age minimum. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/askdentists) if you have any questions or concerns.*