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Dry Socket
 | What is a dry socket?
A dry socket occurs usually about 3 or 4 days after a tooth has been
extracted. At that time, instead of the area feeling better, it begins to feel worse
and the person experiences severe pain. Normally a blood clot fills the socket (or
hole) in your jaw where the tooth was removed. During healthy healing, this blood
clot gradually reorganizes into a healing plug that protects the exposed bone in your jaw.
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When a dry socket occurs, this blood clot
breaks down and the socket or hole in your jaw is not filled with this healing protective
plug. Bacteria attack the bone in the tooth socket and cause a localized infection
that is VERY painful. The dry socket can then lead to infection that could become
serious.
| What can be done about this?
Your dentist will place some healing and soothing medication in the
socket itself to break the cycle of pain and infection. If the area is very painful,
he may have to give some local anesthetic. If the infection is bad, he may have to
give you an antibiotic and medication for pain. The dentist will probably have
to see you for several days in a row. He will remove the packing, clean the area,
and place new packing. After a few days, suddenly the socket begins to heal properly
and the pain stops.
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| What causes a dry socket?
No one knows for sure. But here are some common factors.
They usually occur when lower teeth are removed. They often follow a
very difficult extraction that requires bone removal to get the tooth out. They are
also often associated with a badly infected tooth.that is extracted. But
sometimes, a dry socket can follow an easy extraction of a non-infected tooth!
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| Can dry sockets be avoided?
The main way to avoid them is with regular dental visits so that bad
dental infections can be prevented. There is really no reliable way to prevent them
if the extraction is difficult and/or the tooth is infected.
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