While a certain amount of pain is normal and expected after a tooth extraction, there are times when intense and persistent pain can be attributed to dry socket symptoms. A small percentage of dental patients can end up with a condition known as “dry socket” after their dentists pulls a tooth. Almost all patients will experience inflammation, pain and bleeding after an extraction, especially if they have wisdom teeth or especially large adult teeth removed. However, when the person feels extreme discomfort that lasts more than a few days he or she may actually have symptoms of dry socket.
What is Dry Socket?
After an adult tooth is removed, the extracted root leaves a hole or “socket” in the jaw bone. To protect this hole and its nerve endings, the body naturally creates a blood clot in the socket. This only happens with adult teeth since baby teeth do not have roots. On occasion, the protective blood clot will come loose and the individual will experience a great deal of pain as the nerves in this area are exposed. Food, liquids, and even air will aggravate the exposed nerves, and the socket is vulnerable to infection when it is left unprotected.
Dry Socket Treatment and Prevention
If a patient is experiencing dry socket symptoms, he or she should return to the dental clinic immediately for evaluation to avoid an infection in the gums or jaw bone. Besides pain, one of the most telling symptoms of the condition is visible bone in the extraction hole. One should see the blood clot when he or she inspects the area. The doctor will clean and fill the hole with a dressing to prevent further problems and help the site heal.
As with most open wounds, it will be necessary to change the dressing daily, which may entail repeat visits to the clinic. The patient may need antibiotics as well. Most people can manage their discomfort with over-the-counter pain medicines such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. The dentist may also recommend salt water rinses or a special antibacterial mouthwash to aid the healing process. Excessive rinsing and spitting can actually aggravate the condition, so one should limit rinses to twice daily or follow the doctor’s recommended schedule.
While this complication is easy to treat, it is always better to avoid it altogether. People who are most likely to experience dry socket are smokers and those who practice inadequate or overly aggressive dental hygiene. Since suction can loosen the blood clot, the acts of dragging on a cigarette, sucking on candy or lozenges, or drinking through a straw are often triggers for the condition. It is best to avoid these habits during the first week following the dental procedure. Women who take birth control pills and people with a history of this complication are also at risk and should watch for symptoms of dry socket. The best way to avoid this painful problem is to keep the extraction site clean while avoiding any habits that may dissolve or loosen the protective clot in the surgery site.
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