i think i have dry socket, what does it look like?

Question

i have some yellow stuff around the opening but it doesn't hurt. i had my tooth pulled two days ago is this normal or early stages of dry socket? i'm on atibiotics and no painkillers. this yellow stuff just started to form a few hours ago but no pain what so ever, is the pain coming soon?

Answer 1

I'm a dentist.

Dry socket is almost always associated with severe throbbing pain. It is virtually impossible that you would be able to see the exposed bone yourself.

Admittedly, after I extract wisdom teeth and have patients return occasionally with symptoms of dry-socket, I emprically treat them as though they have dry-socket without actually checking for exposed bone. It's not easy to visualize.

Dry-socket, if it's going to occur, usually develops 3 or more days post-operatively. Infections, on the other hand, tend to develop 5 or more days post-op (and are definitely more rare than dry-socket...provided there were no predisposing factors for infection).

Answer 2

What you are seeing is a normal appearance. If you have a dry socket you would be in extreme pain usually starting around 3 days after the extraction.

Answer 3

Dry socket is when the protective blood clot that fills the hole the tooth left is washed or sucked out. You don't have it --yet. Call your docs office to find out what to do now. The nerves are exposed and if it becomes dry socket it will ache 2-3 days.

Answer 4

The tooth bed is draining normally. Just make sure you take your FULL course of antibiotics!!

Dry socket usually occurs within the first 24-48 hours after extraction, so I think you're in the clear.

Answer 5

dry sockets are extremlely painful and the pain comes early after getting the tooth out. i had to take vicodin for mine.

Answer 6

dry socket hurts like hell!!! i had it before my whole head hurt,i hope you dont get it.