1) What I see in the photo (clinical observations)

• There appear to be six maxillary implant locator/ball abutments placed across the arch (consistent with an implant-retained overdenture design).

• The mucosa is generally pink. There is mild erythema (redness) around a few abutments but I do not see obvious pus or large swelling in this photo.

• Tissue margins around some abutments look slightly inflamed — could be normal healing irritation, plaque accumulation, or early mucositis around the abutments.

At around 14 days after a tooth extraction, the socket should typically show significant healing — the gum tissue should start closing and the site should look pinkish with minimal redness. In your case, the area still appears to have a visible opening with some yellowish or whitish tissue, which could be part of normal healing (fibrin clot or granulation tissue). However, if the hole remains large, sore, or if there’s pain radiating to the temple, ear, or jaw, it may indicate delayed healing or localized infection (dry socket or alveolitis).

Case Overview

A patient reported:

“Day 12 and still healing. Got a tiny bone fragment — is there any way to get it to go away?”

This is a common concern following a tooth extraction. At around 10 to 14 days post-surgery, it’s possible to feel or even see a small white or hard fragment emerging from the gum. This is often part of the healing process, but it can also signal delayed soft tissue closure or exposure of a bone spicule.

Full Case Analysis and Diagnosis

Patient Story

The client presented with multiple missing upper teeth and partial lower tooth crowding. Their main goal was to restore smile function and chewing comfort through a removable partial denture (RPD).

Before treatment, the patient had:

• Missing anterior (front) upper teeth

• Mild gum inflammation around extraction areas

• Difficulty eating and speaking

• Psychological discomfort due to visible tooth loss