The Dreaded Dry Socket

You’ve heard the stories. First of all, let’s be clear, dry socket (alveolar osteitis) happens in approximately 2-4% of extractions. It is something most patients worry about, but it’s actually rare and there are things you can do to minimize the risk, which we will discuss in this article. But first, let’s explain this dreaded condition.

After a tooth extraction, a blood clot forms on top of the extraction site. The clot serves to cover the hole and protect the underlying bone and nerve tissue. On rare occasion, this blook clot may fail to form, or become dissolved or dislodged. When that happens the exposure can cause pain, sometimes intense pain. Dry socket is more common after wisdom tooth extraction. When it happens, we encourage our patients to call us right away. In some cases, the patient can take measures at home and other times, we need to see the patient back in the office.
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So, the good news is that patients can minimize the risk of dry socket by following some simple after-care steps at home.

• Avoid straws or sucking of any kind. Stay away from soups and crunchy foods. Eat soft foods for several days until the extraction site begins to close and pain subsides.
• Do not smoke anything. The sucking action can dislodge the clot and the nicotine and other toxins can damage the site and thin the blood.
• Ask the dentist about medicines you may be taking to avoid potential drug interactions.
• Proper oral hygiene after the extraction is important. Your dental technician will instruct you on how to care for your teeth after you get home.

With care after the extraction, most patients heal quickly without complications of dry socket. We certainly try to do everything to ensure a speedy recovery.
When suffering from acute toothache pain, patients are relieved to find Just Pull It. Our goal is to provide safe, fast, and affordable extractions for those who need it. That is the only thing we do and the focus of our practice. 

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