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Even with the best dental team and carefully administered sedation, dental extractions in Porterville, CA, are no one’s definition of fun. Our dentists can do their best to be careful and remove your tooth without causing any extra damage, but you’ll still have an open wound in your mouth that you must care for.

If not, painful conditions like dry socket after extraction can develop. Besides being very uncomfortable, this issue can delay healing, which is why it is key to prevent it and offer prompt treatment if it does happen.

What’s Dry Socket?

Dry socket is a painful condition that can occur after a dentist pulls a tooth. When a tooth is extracted, a blood clot forms in the empty space (known as a socket) to protect the area and promote healing. The clot covers the area while it heals and has a dark scab-like appearance.

If the clot fails to form or emerges prematurely, the underlying bone and nerves may become exposed. This can impede healing and cause great pain. Furthermore, it exposes these sensitive areas to bacteria from food and beverages, raising the risk of contracting an infection.

Fortunately, only 2% to 5% of all tooth extractions result in dry sockets. This condition is more frequent after wisdom teeth or third molars are extracted.

Nevertheless, a lack of proper care can increase the chances of it developing. If you see a clot, try not to touch or remove it; instead, leave it alone. If you see bone instead of a clot, you may have a dry socket.

What Causes Dry Socket?

When a blood clot at the location of a tooth extraction fails to form properly or breaks down too quickly, a dry socket results. It’s not well known why this happens. Nonetheless, a number of risk factors can raise your likelihood of getting a dry socket.

Some of these include:

• Poor Oral Hygiene: Bacteria can enter your mouth if you don't keep it clean, increasing your risk.
• Smoking: The risk of developing dry socket is more than three times higher for smokers than nonsmokers.
• Using a Straw: Drinking through a straw can create suction to help loosen the blood clot. Avoid the straw for at least a week.
• Vigorous Rinsing: Excessive mouthwash swishing can also cause the clot to come loose. If your dentist recommends rinsing, tilt your head and let the liquid soak the area instead.
• Hormonal Birth Control: Estrogen-containing birth control pills can impede healing and increase the risk of dry socket.

Symptoms of Dry Socket

If you develop dry socket, chances are high you’ll know it right away—this condition can be very painful. Still, some common symptoms to look out for include:

• Severe discomfort a few days following tooth extraction.
• Loss of the blood clot at the tooth extraction site, completely or partially. The socket might appear to be empty.
• Visible bone within the socket.
• Pain that radiates from the socket to the side of your face where the tooth was extracted, such as your ear, eye, temple, or neck.
• An unpleasant smell emanating from your mouth or bad breath.
• Bad taste in your mouth.

Oftentimes, the pain begins 1 to 3 days after the tooth removal.

How Is Dry Socket Treated?

The treatment of dry sockets can involve:

• Antibiotics: If your dentist suspects you have an infection, they can prescribe antibiotics.
• Irrigation: Your dentist may gently flush the socket with salt water or antibacterial mouthwash.
• Medicated Dressings: Your dentist may inject numbing drugs such as eugenol or lidocaine into the empty socket.
• Pain Medicine: Pain can be lessened with over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

When It's Time to Act

Following a tooth extraction, some level of pain and discomfort is normal. However, you should be able to control the pain with the medication that your oral surgeon or dentist recommended. Moreover, as time passes, the pain should subside.

In the days following tooth extraction, contact your dentist or oral surgeon immediately if you experience new pain or if the pain worsens.

Prevent Dry Socket After Dental Extractions in Porterville, CA, By Following Your Dentist’s Indications

Dry socket is the most common post-extraction complication. While it can often be prevented with good oral hygiene and following the dentist’s indications, some patients are more prone to developing this condition than others.

Whatever the case, it's crucial to contact your dentist at Live Oak Dental. We’ll assess the state of the area, ensure there’s no infection, and offer effective treatment to reduce pain. So, if you’re experiencing severe discomfort after a dental extraction, contact us today for assistance!

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