A Bleeding Socket after Tooth Extraction.

#### What you need to knowA fit and well 25 year old man attends his local emergency department concerned about a bleeding tooth socket after having had a lower wisdom tooth extracted earlier that morning.Postoperative bleeding is a recognised complication after tooth extraction, with an incidence of up to 1.4% of patients undergoing lower wisdom tooth surgery.1 It can be difficult to achieve complete haemostasis within the oral cavity because of the highly vascular nature of the tissues and exposure of the open socket to the patient’s exploring tongue and fingers.2In healthy patients, a low level ooze for 12-24 hours after extraction is normal as an organised clot forms in the tooth socket.23 The patient will have mildly bloodstained saliva that will decrease over time. Any active bleeding beyond this point often indicates a haemostatic problem and requires investigations and treatment.4Significant, active haemorrhage must be addressed before taking a comprehensive history. It …