What is ""Dry socket"?

Question

I just had a wisdom tooth pulled yesterday and I keep reading about dry socket. What is it? How can I prevent it?

Answer 1

In a patient with a dry socket, blood does not fill up the extraction socket or the blood clot is lost. The gums can not grow over the extraction socket because there's nothing to grow over and the hole remains open. This opening causes a constant dull throbbing pain and the patient can often have a foul smelling breath and bad taste in the mouth. Ear pain is another possible dry socket symptom.

It's called a dry socket because the hole, or socket, that the tooth used to fit into becomes dry. It begins hurting about three days after oral surgery. Unfortunately, the pain lasts about a week after it begins. The dental name is acute alveolar osteitis. Acute means all of a sudden. Alveolar is the name of the bone that supports teeth. -itis means inflamed and osteo- means bone. Osteitis means bone inflammation. Acute alveolar osteitis means sudden inflammation of the bone that supports a tooth.

Dentists don't know exactly what causes a dry socket. It occurs more with lower teeth than upper teeth and more with females than males. The problem occurs more often after difficult extractions. It may be that forceful pushing against the wall of the socket when the tooth is being removed causes the walls of the tooth socket to become crushed. This prevents bleeding into the socket because the blood vessels have been crushed closed. The lack of blood then causes severe pain.

Anything that dislodges the clot can cause a dry socket. Forceful spitting or sucking though a straw can pull a clot completely out of its socket. Patients should wait a day before rinsing with warm salt water to avoid dissolving the new blood clot. When salt water rinsing, spit gently to avoid pressure. Carbonated beverages should be avoided because they may bubble the clot out. Alcoholic drinks can dry out the blood clot and prevent healing. Avoid smoking for a few days after dental extractions because smoking can disturb clot formation. Patients who have recently had oral surgery should avoid anything that may irritate the socket or anything that may cause the clot from being dislodged. Follow our oral surgery post operative instructions carefully to avoid dry socket treatment.

Answer 2

A dry socket is an infection of the bone where the tooth was (the socket). It occurs when a proper clot does not form in the socket after the extraction. To prevent it, follow the care instructions you were given to the letter! Do not smoke, spit, or take anything through a straw. Take antibiotics if they were given to you. Don't disturb the area (for example, by brushing) for a day or 2. If a dry socket forms, it will take between 3-5 days after the surgery - and you will know it if it starts! If it does, go back to the doctor that did the surgery - it's a pretty easy fix, but best to avoid it if possible.

Answer 3

its where the skin over a newly pulled tooth closes at the top but not in the hole the tooth came out of leaving the socket open its very pain full to prevent it don't suck anything (I'm not kidding) don't use straws or smoke or anything like that because the pressure may cause the skin to close prematurely leaving a dry socket.

Answer 4

dry socket is when you have the tooth pulled and the "socket" where the tooth was looses it's clot. It happens by spitting, using a straw a lot and mostly from smoking. It's very painful and you'd have to go back to the dentist. They put this really foul smelling thick salve into the socket and it heals it. I wouldn't want one, super painful

Answer 5

Do not use straws, smoke, use a recommended mouthwash from your orthodontist, an antibiotic should be prescribed, and
Women who use birth control pills or have their teeth removed in the first 22 days of the menstrual cycle are twice as likely to develop dry socket after an extraction. Schedule extractions during the last week of your menstrual cycle (days 23 through 28) ** when estrogen levels are low or inactive.

Avoid drinking through a straw

Avoid smoking, it contaminates the extraction site

Avoid excessive mouth rinsing, it interferes with blood clotting

Keeping food from impacting in this area. Chew on the other side of your mouth and gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water after the first 24 hours.

Answer 6

1. All these people who say she was dehydrated are 100% right. Drinking dehydrates you. It is a fact. When women are very dehydrated they have a hard time getting wet. 2. When women are drunk, they may act hornier or more sexual, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are physically aroused (wet). If a woman has had a drink or two, it may enhace the sex, but if a woman is flat out drunk it is harder to really get physically aroused because she is not all "with it". 3. The thing about her being dry as an indicator that she had sex with her ex is completely false. I am not saying she isn't having sex with her ex, I am saying your theory that she may have had sex with her exbf becasue she was dry is ridiculous. It sounds like you have a trust issue you need to talk about. It may be a good idea for you to take a step back and evaluate the relationship as objectively as you can. Maybe this isn't the best time for you two to be in a serious relationship.

Answer 7

That is a very painfull condition when the clod inside the socket separates from the bottom of the hole. To prevent that from happening, you should not smoke for 24 hours, do not drink through the straw, do not spit or create vacuum inside your mouth any other way.
Good luck

Answer 8

Dry socket is when the hole where your tooth was gets infected. To prevent it, no smoking, no sucking out of a straw and no sucking any other type things people like to suck.

Answer 9

Dry socket is called Alveolar Osteitis... It happens due to premature disruption of clot following extraction...The tooth socket becomes dry, collects food debris and gets infected..
This condition can be extremely painful and can cause swelling...The clot can be disturbed frequently due to
* Spitting within 24hrs of extraction
* Smoking within 48 hrs of extraction
* Ingestion of warm food or water within 24 hrs of extraction
It is treated by promoting new clot formation and placement of analgesic within the socket..Antibiotics can be helpful too..

Answer 10

dry socket is when like you smoke ciggerattes will keep your mouth dry and the whole where the tooth was dries up and if you get a dry socket, you go back to the dentist and they work on it again and it is very very very painful. My advice, if you smoke ciggerattes, don't smoke at all. Keep liquids flowing in your mouth