Having much needed restorative dental work done is stressful enough, but what about after the procedure. The dreaded dry socket is a real condition that can be extremely painful.
If you are having a tooth or multiple teeth pulled, alveolar osteitis, could affect you and your mouth. According to WebMD, five percent develop the condition after a tooth has been pulled, and although the uncomfortable condition is treatable, some patients aren’t even aware of the problem.
So what is Dry Socket?
After a tooth is removed, a blood clot naturally forms where the roots once were. The clots form to protect your nerves and the bone, which allows for healing. However, if that blood clot becomes dislodged or disappears, dry socket could become an issue.
Symptoms
Dry socket pain is excruciating, and if you or anyone you know has every experienced it will understand the agony. If you have had a tooth or multiple teeth pulled and notice tenderness, discomfort, or intense pain, contact your dentist, especially if it lingers for more than a few days.
A foul taste, bad breath and a pain that comes from inside of your ear could also be indicators of dry socket. Dry socket can also be seen if you look inside of the hole where your tooth was extracted. If you see white bone and not a blood clot, call your dentist as quickly as possible.
Dry socket can also cause painful infections including a dangerous abscess, any pain or swelling should be considered a sign that something isn’t right. Call your dentist as an infection could cause serious health complications.
If you have recently had a tooth or multiple teeth pulled and have been dealing with pain or any of the above symptoms, contact your dentist as dry socket can cause serious issues if left untreated. Call your dentist now.