Dry Socket, also known as Alveolar Osteitis, is the inflammation of the alveolar bone and usually occurs after you have your permanent tooth removed. Normally, after tooth extraction, a dark blood clot forms covering the area where the tooth was pulled from. The formation of blood clot is very important for the protection of the underlying bone and nerve endings in the empty tooth socket. On the other hand, the clot also provides the much needed foundation for the growth of new bone and for the development of soft tissue over the clot.
If the blood clot fails to form or gets lost in the socket you might have dry socket. However, it is normal to experience pain after tooth extraction, but people who develop dry socket typically complain of intense pain 3 to 4 days after the tooth extraction surgery. Without a blood clot, the underlying bone and nerve endings becomes exposed, resulting in intense pain and discomforts. As more days passes, the empty socket becomes inflamed and filled with food debris and bacteria. The pain often radiates to the ear, neck or other sides of the face.
How common is dry socket
Dry socket is quite rare, but you will be at greater risk of developing it if you have greater than usual trauma during the tooth extraction surgery. The percentage of people who develop dry socket is quite low, but most of these people have dry socket after wisdom teeth removal. According to the result gotten from a study, the percentage of those who develop dry socket is rarely about 3 to 5% of people who have a tooth extracted. People with diabetes, those who smoke, those with infection in the mouth, and women who take oral contraceptives are more likely to develop dry socket.
In addition, female patients undergoing surgical extractions, such as wisdom tooth removal or multiple extractions, who do not follow home-care instructions or care for the extraction site as instructed and women during menstruation have a small increase in risk for dry sockets. However, the pain from dry socket may keep you up at night. In most cases, over the counter pain medicines might not be enough to stop the pain.
Symptoms of dry socket
If you recently underwent surgical extractions by a dentist, you may be concerned about developing dry socket. Here are some common symptoms of dry socket to look out for. Typically, after a dental teaching procedure, it is normal to see discoloration at the healing site. A person without dry socket would observe a dark blood clot covering the area where the tooth was extracted. However, someone with dry socket would notice a whitish bone instead.
If you look into the site where your tooth was pulled by a dentist during surgical extractions, and you didn’t see the blood clot, then you have a dry socket. Pain from dry socket typically starts about three to four days after the teeth were pulled. Instead of dying down, the pain from dental teaching can become more severe and can radiate to your ear as more days pass. Well, here are some of the common symptoms of dry socket.
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During wisdom tooth removal or surgical extractions, it is important to be aware of the possibility of dry sockets. After the procedure, the socket may appear empty without any blood covering, revealing only bone underneath.
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an unpleasant smell and taste in your mouth.
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persistent bad breath or a foul odor coming from your mouth.
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After a wisdom tooth removal, pain can radiate from the dry socket to your ear, eye, temple, neck, and different parts of your face.
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Patients may experience severe pain and aching in the area of the socket within a few days after teeth extractions, which could be a sign of dry sockets.
Risk factors
After a surgical extraction of your teeth, it is crucial for patients to understand the risks associated with the recovery process. There are certain factors that can increase the risk of developing dry socket after extractions. Therefore, patients are more likely to experience dry socket if any of the following applies to them.
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Oral contraceptives. These medications tend to increase the level of estrogen in the body. Oral contraceptives pills and menstrual hormones have shown to have a small increase in the risk for dry sockets. High levels of estrogen may disrupt normal healing processes and increase the risk of dry socket.
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History of dry socket. There is high chances of developing dry sockets if you have been having dry socket in the past. So, if you have had dry socket in the past, you’re more likely to develop it more often after tooth extraction.
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Oral infection. There is high chances of having dry socket, if there is bacterial contamination of the socket during or after the extraction surgery. Also, tooth or gum infection can result in dry socket.
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Improper after-care. After a tooth extraction, the dentist or oral surgeon is more likely to give you some home-care instructions that you should follow. If you practice poor oral hygiene and fail to follow these guidelines you may end up having a dry socket.
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Smoking and tobacco use. Some chemicals in cigarettes or other forms of tobacco may impair healing and decreases new blood vessel formation. Sucking through a straw or cigarette, or aggressive rinsing and spitting can dislodge the clot early. Early dislodges of blood clot or poor healing will result in a stop or slow down the healing process. The extraction site might eventually become contaminated and infected.
Bottom line
After a tooth extraction, it’s crucial for patients to avoid smoking, aggressive rinsing, spitting, or drinking through a straw. In a study, it was found that patients who continued to use oral contraceptives (birth control pills) after surgery had an increased risk of developing dry socket. If the extraction site becomes infected, dentists may prescribe antibiotics. Patients can also rinse their mouth daily with salt water or a recommended mouthwash at home.
In most cases, dry sockets last for only 7-10 days. A small minority will last longer than a week. If the sockets seems not to be healing, your dentist may need to clean the tooth socket, removing any debris from the hole, and then fill the socket with a medicated piece of gauze or a special paste to promote healing. If the pain is too intense, you should take a pain medications as prescribed or follow your dentist’s instructions on applying ice or heat to your face right above the socket.
Richard Smith is a Registered Nutritionist and also a Health Speaker. Richard Smith graduated from The City University of New York. You can learn more about him by Visiting His LinkedIn Page or Follow him on Twitter.
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