Tooth extracted: can the collagen plug be removed?
I recently had a tooth extracted — it was non wisdom. I found out that my oral surgeon put a collagen plug in the socket. The plug is bothering me somehwhat and I was told that if it bothered me I could take it out? Would any thing happen — i.e. losing my blood clot — if the collagen was taken out? If I leave it in does it absorb or something? What actually happens? I just don’t want there to be any complications from keeping it in / taking it out. Should I just leave it alone? Any insight would be much appreciated!
See also: - Collagen Plug vs Resorbable Membrane
13 Comments on Tooth extracted: can the collagen plug be removed?
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Carlos Boudet, DDS DICOI
2/28/2013
Hi there,
The collagen plug is serving one of several purposes.
Sometimes it is placed on top of a bone graft to keep the graft particles from coming out and loosing the graft.
Other times it acts as the graft itself and speeds up the healing by maintaining the clot and allowing the soft tissue to start covering the extraction socket.
It is not a good idea to try to remove it.
The proper thing to do if it bothers you and you are uncomfortable is to call the surgeon and explain your concerns.
He can tell you what you should do.
Good luck!
Walter Mick DDS
3/1/2013
Please don't remove collagen plug....you could be setting yourself up for a dry socket.....Call your surgeon!
Mike Milliorn
9/23/2017
Mine is a wisdom tooth. No grafts here. My collagen plug is starting to come out on its own just from eating and sleeping. Loose ends, soft and puffy. I think it is about half out. I tried to push it down with the little squares of gauze between my teeth but it didn’t help. I can’t get my dentist this weekend. I’ll try to deal with it till Monday. How long does it take for the plug to dissolve on its own? Same for dissolvable sutures. How can the skin close over the socket with the plug puffing up and hanging out a bit?
Carli
2/3/2018
Whatever happened with this? I had a tooth extracted and a collagen plug put in, but I think I see the plug coming out which isn't allowing the gum to fully heal. I am having some pain 6 days later, but I don't think it's dry socket as a couple of Motrin seem to take the pain away. And it's the weekend...
Rob
2/9/2018
Any update on this Carli? I'm in a similar situation.
Carli
2/9/2018
I think it eventually came out on it's own. I went in to the dentist after 8 days post removal and it is healing well. All the stitches dissolved and I still have a hole. They gave me a plastic syringe to clean out that area. Takes a lot longer to heal now compares to when I had my wisdom teeth out 20 years ago!
John Molloyr
4/30/2018
All those words, I want to know when can I take the plug out?
Phoning the dentist is not an option. Can you state 4 hours or 12 hours.
Thanks
Kadabra831
5/29/2020
You don't take the plug our yourself ever. It becomes part of your body/mouth because it's like a bone graft in a way and causes faster healing and can actually help create better structure for your teeth going forward.
Susan
6/22/2018
My husband had 13 bottom teeth pulled and twelve of them the dentist plugged and stitched but it’s been weeks and his gums are like sticking up and he said it hurts to sneeze or eat. When do they dissolve?
Kadabra831
5/29/2020
Oh wow!! I know this was a year ago but would be interested to know what happened. Even w that amount of teeth pulled(I'm guessing dentures) there's no reason he shouldn't be able to eat somewhat normal foods, let alone soft foods!!! I hope all turned out ok!!! (I j had three pulled yesterday n had the plugs; I had never heard of them so been scouring the internet j to see personal experiences...this thread was sad with all the issues everyone has had 😥😟) I truly hope everyone, and again your hubby, got everything worked out and healed properly 😇😇😁🎆🌅
Ian
2/29/2020
I just had my 1st and 2nd molars pulled and bone graft done for the 2 teeth that was Feb. 26, 2020, I'm on day 3, before bed I did a gentle warm salt water rinse and I noticed the membrane loosen up, but I think it is still holding on by a sitch I'm day of post off. Is normal for it fall off? What should I do,
Kadabra831
5/29/2020
There can always be complications but any concerns, especially with the level of work you had, you hopefully called your dentist back already 😇😃
Dumas
3/26/2020
Mine is 8 days after wisdom tooth extract. Stitches dissolved a bit an feel out but my collengen plug remains in place. The other day I was testing to see if it was my cheek getting in the way when I bit down or if it was my gums, so I tried sucking my cheek in the hole of missing tooth. I felt something suck like sssthhllk and I immediately was like oh shit. Now my shit is hurting more than usual so I’m thinking dry socket but I can see collagen plug is still in place.
