Alabama Daphne Dental Emergency

Dry Socket

Dry Socket, also known as alveolar osteitis, is a dental condition that is very painful and occurs sometimes after a permanent adult tooth is extracted.  Dry Socket happens when the blood clot at the site of the tooth extraction fails to develop, it dislodges, or it dissolved before the wound has healed.

Under normal circumstances, when a tooth is pulled, a blood clot will form at the site of the tooth extraction.  This blood clot is a protective layer over the underlying bone and nerve endings in the empty tooth socket.  The clot is also necessary to provide a foundation for the growth of a new bone and for the soft tissue to develop over the clot.

When the clot doesn’t form, exposure to the underlying bone and nerves will result in intense pain.  Pain happens in the socket but also along the nerves radiating to the side of the face.  The socket will become inflamed and can fill with food debris, intensifying the pain.  If a dry socket develops, the pain will usually start 1 to 3 days after the tooth is removed.   Alabama Daphne Dental Emergency

The most common complication following a tooth extraction is a dry socket.  When the wisdom teeth are removed (third molars), a dry socket can be a complication.  Taking over-the-counter medications alone will not be enough to treat dry socket pain.  You will need a dentist or oral surgeon to offer treatment to relieve the pain as well.

If you suspect a dry socket, call the dentist that removed your tooth as soon as possible.  Alabama Daphne Dental Emergency

Down by the Bay