In this article, we are going to look at some pictures of dry socket and some of the common ways to diagnose a dry socket. But before then, for you to understand better about dry socket, we are going to look at the definition, the common causes of tooth extractions and symptoms such as sore throat at the tooth extraction site.
What is dry socket?
Dry socket also referred to as alveolar osteitis is one of the complications that usually occur after a permanent tooth tooth is extracted. However, the occurrence of dry socket is less common, it occurs only in about 2 to 5 % of tooth extractions. Sometimes, the percentage rises up to 20% when it involves the removal of impacted wisdom teeth. A dry socket is a condition that often occur after a tooth extraction when the blood clot that normally fills the socket dissolves or falls out too soon, exposing the underlying bone and nerves. Don’t worry, as we continue to move through his article, I will show you some of these things.
Blood clot
Normally, after a tooth is pulled by an oral surgeon, a blood clot forms covering the space where the wisdom tooth was pulled from. The formation of these clot is very important, since it is the first step to healing for wisdom teeth removal. It helps to protect the underlying bone and nerve endings until the gums has healed. So, if the blood clot fails to form or falls out too soon, it can lead to the exposure of the bone and nerves in the mouth. Without a protective layer (dry socket), bone and nerves are left exposed, leading to intense pain inside the socket. The pain can also extend to the jaw, ear, neck or other parts of the face and head.
Causes of dry socket
In general, dry socket appears when there is partial or total loss of blood clot in the tooth socket after a tooth extraction. If the blood clot is lost or does not form, the bone is exposed and healing is delayed. Health professionals believe that the occurrence of dry socket is a result of bacterial, chemical, mechanical, and physiological factors. In most cases, pre-existing infection that is present in the mouth prior to a dental extraction such as periodontal disease (periodontitis or gingivitis) can prevent proper formation of a blood clot.
In addition, it is also believed that hormonal changes and exposure to nicotine can increase the risk of alveolar osteitis, or dry socket, after tooth extractions. Smoking and the use of any form of tobacco after a wisdom tooth removal can hinder proper blood clot formation at the extraction site, leading to oral pain.
However, it has been reported that women are more likely to develop alveolar osteitis, also known as dry socket, than men. This is often associated with increased hormonal changes related to the use of oral contraceptives or normal hormonal changes during a woman’s cycle.
Symptoms of dry socket
1. Severe pain. With the loss of blood clot, the nerves and bone are exposed leading to the excruciating pain felt by the patients. The pain usually start between the second to third day after the extraction surgery. It can worsen overtime, radiating from the socket to your ear, eye, temple, neck, or face.
2. Delayed healing. A dry socket will create a delay in healing which could possibly affect the normal healing time. The symptoms plus discomforts may last for up to a week or more depending on how you managed the condition.
3.Persistent bad breath and foul odor. Since the socket is left uncovered, food particles tends to accumulate and disintegrating, giving rise to extreme foul odor from the socket.
4. Unpleasant taste in the mouth. Most people do experience metallic taste in their mouth after undergoing a tooth extraction. Sometimes, the metallic taste is normal due to the clot, but if the clot is missing, it can mean another thing.
5. Visible bone in the socket. Due to partial or total loss of the blood clot at the tooth extraction site, the white, underlying bone will be visible. Below is a picture showing the bone inside the socket of a patient with dry socket.
Pictures of dry socket
Below are some of the photos that I got from the dentist to show you how the healing process of a tooth extraction looks like. You can see the pain and dry socket in these images.
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source – juniordentist.com
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Finally, it’s normal to be afraid if you just had your tooth extracted, especially since dry sockets can cause intense pain. Make sure that you follow all the post extraction instruction given by your dentist or oral surgeon to prevent dry sockets.
If the socket was packed with gauze, follow the healthcare provider’s instructions to care for it and avoid complications. Follow up with your oral surgeon or dentist within a few days to have the gauze changed at the right time. In the meantime, it is normal for the blood clot to turn black, as the socket heals you may start to notice white patches on the site showing that the gingiva is healing.
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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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