Dry Socket is a post- extraction complication which is a painful dental condition. Dry Socket happens when a blood clot at the site where the tooth was removed does not form, comes out or dissolves before wound has healed.
How does it appear?
A dry socket appears as an empty hole in the place of the removed tooth. The exposed bone is visible from the socket. The opening may look dry and have a creamy white colour, just like a bone.
Symptoms of dry socket may include:
1. severe pain within a few days after removing a tooth.
2. Loss of part or all of the blood clot at the tooth removal site. The socket may look empty.
3. Bone that you can see in the socket.
4. Pain that spreads from the socket to your ear, eye and neck on the same side of your face as the tooth removal.
4. Bad breath or a foul odour coming from your mouth.
5. Bad taste in your mouth.
Here are a few ways you can prevent dry socket:
1. Avoid straws
The suction movement of air and cheek muscles when you use a straw may dislodge your blood clot. You should avoid using straws for one week after your extraction.
2. Avoid smoking and tobacco
People who smoke and use tobacco are at a much higher risk of developing dry socket after tooth extraction.
The fast inhalation of smoking can dislodge your blood clot. This applies to smoking anything, not just cigarettes. That’s because chemicals in other tobacco products may prevent healing and cause an infection.
Reduce your tobacco intake for a couple weeks leading up to a planned surgery. If you need help avoiding tobacco while you recover, your dentist may also be able to provide resources or help you develop a plan to quit smoking.
Here at Teeth Care Centre, Dr. Pankti Patel, dentist in Ahmedabad and our dedicated team of doctors will take utmost care and precautions that Dry Socket will never be a concern for our patients. We encourage the need of socket preservation following each extraction, to make the process of tooth replacement as sound and hassle free as possible for you.