Dry Socket: A painful dental condition

1. Dry Socket: A painful dental condition

2. Dry socket or (alveolar osteitis) is a painful dental condition that can occur after tooth extraction. A dry socket occurs when a blood clot does not develop at the site of the tooth extraction. It typically occurs 2 to 4 days after your tooth extraction. • Usually, a blood clot forms after your tooth extraction. The clot protects your nerves ending in the empty socket. It also serves as the base for the growth of the new bone.  • The exposed nerve ending can be an extremely painful condition. The socket may become inflamed and can fill with food bits adding to the discomfort. It can become a serious complication if left untreated. Dry sockets last for 7 to 10 days.  • Symptoms • The symptoms of dry socket are:- • Intense pain shortly after tooth extraction. The pain may radiate from the socket to the eye, teeth, and neck. • Tenderness  • Partial or complete loss of blood clot at the site of the extraction. You may notice a dry socket. • Visible bone within the socket • Bad breath or unpleasant taste in the mouth.  • Book a dentist in Pune if the pain worsens or cannot be helped with the prescribed pain killers.

3. Causes • The precise reason for dry socket is not known. Dentist suspect the following factors may increase the risk of dry sockets:- • A technically difficult tooth extraction. • Poor oral hygiene • Not following your dentist aftercare instructions after tooth extraction. • Using a straw or tobacco products after the procedure.  • Aggressive rinsing and spitting can remove the clot. • Medication such as oral contraceptive and menstrual hormonal pills.  • Diagnosis • The best dentist in Pune will suspect a dry socket if you complain of severe toothache after a dental procedure. They will examine the sight of the extraction to see if you have a blood clot or if the bone is visible within the socket.  • The dentist may take an X-ray to ensure no fragment of your tooth was left behind during the previous procedure. 

4. Treatment • The best dentist in Pune will try to reduce the symptoms especially pain. The treatment plan will be as follows:- • Irrigation of the socket of any food debris. This flushing will reduce the pain and flush out any infection.  • They will put a medicated dressing in the socket to reduce pain. This dressing may need to be changed depending on your symptoms and the severity of the symptoms. • Prescribe pain medication for the dry socket. • Once the dressing is removed your dentist may ask you to continue flushing the socket at home. You may need to continue with this remedy till the socket is healed and food no longer collects at the site.  • Prevention • Smoking and using tobacco products increase the risk of dry sockets. Avoid smoking for at least three days after your tooth has been extracted. Avoid drinking carbonated or warm drinks after the procedure. Don’t drink from a straw for at least a week after the procedure. The dentist may give you other post-operative care. You should not miss your follow up visit to ensure your wound is healing properly.