A dry socket is:
- Any socket in which a patient is having pain due to the loss of the blood clot thus exposing the bone to air, food, and fluids along with an offensive odor. This often occurs two or more days after an extraction done by a cosmetic dentist or seattle dentist and can last about 5-6 days. It is normal to have soreness and discomfort following an extraction.
- However, pain should be lessening by the second day.
This condition is more common in the mandibular area and in back teeth due to poorer circulation in this area, with wisdom teeth being the most common site. Dry socket delays the healing process.
This condition exists when a blood clot is dislodged from the surgery site thus exposing the bone and fine nerve endings. The blood clot helps in the stopping of bleeding and lays the foundation or framework for new tissue and bone to develop over a two-month healing process.
It usually takes gum tissue about 3-4 weeks to heal where as the bone can take up to six months to heal. This condition is most often found:
- If you do not care for your extraction site as instructed by staff.
- Not following your home care instructions .
- In individuals who smoke before their recommended time. Smoking: decreases healing, decrease blood supply to the protective blood clot, brings toxic products to the area, injuries the gum tissue and the negative pressure of sucking removes the blood clot from the surgery site.
- Women taking oral contraceptives are more susceptible.
- Sucking action from smoking, sneezing, coughing, spitting or sucking, within the first 24 hours.
Dry socket (alveolar osteitis) is a dental condition that occurs when the blood clot at the site of a tooth extraction done by the seattle dentist or cosmetic dentist is dislodged, exposing underlying bone and nerves and causing increasing pain.
It's the most common complication following tooth extractions, such as the removal of impacted wisdom teeth. But with proper postoperative dental care and avoidance of risk factors, dry socket often can be prevented. When it does occur, treatment usually provides immediate relief.
This condition can be diagnosed by a Seattle dentist and Kirkland dentist. Like with root canal done by your redmond dentist, the thought of dry socket probably sends chills down your spine. Even if you've never had this condition, you may wince in sympathetic pain as a relative or co-worker recounts his or her tale of dry socket. Although dry socket can indeed be painful, the condition has taken on frightening proportions that may not match reality.