Do I Have A Dry Socket?

Do you have a severe pain within a few days after a tooth extraction (the pain is worse than it was initially)?

Do you have partial or total loss of the blood clot at the tooth extraction site, which you may notice as an empty-looking socket?

Do you have a visible bone in the socket?

Do you have pain that radiates from the socket to your ear, eye, temple or neck on the same side of your face as the extraction?

Do you have pain that keep you up at night and is often not fully treated by over the counter pain medications?

Do you have a bad breath or a foul odor coming from your mouth?

Do you have an unpleasant taste in your mouth?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have a dry socket. A dry socket is also known as alveolar osteitis. The socket is actually a hole in the bone from which the tooth was extracted. A blood clot usually forms in the socket. The role of this blood clot is to protect the bone and nerves underneath. A dry socket is a condition in which a blood clot fails to form or dissolve soon after the extraction. It is a rare condition that affects only about 2 to 5 percent of people. A dry socket is more common in people who extract their wisdom teeth.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have a dry socket. A dry socket is a dental condition characterized by the loss of a blood clot at the tooth extraction site. It is also called alveolar osteitis. The most common cause of a dry socket is a bacterial contamination of the extraction site. Smokers, women who use oral contraceptives and people with poor oral hygiene have an increased risk of developing this condition. Nicotine in cigarettes and high estrogen levels from oral contraceptives may slow down the healing process. A diagnosis is based on your symptoms and an examination of your mouth.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have a dry socket. A dry socket or alveolar osteitis is a complication that occurs after permanent tooth extraction. It refers to a loss of a blood clot from the extraction site. A dry socket is more common after tooth extraction in the lower jaw, when the teeth are infected before surgery and after wisdom tooth extraction. In most cases, dry sockets resolve within a week. This condition can be easily treated at your dentist’s office. Treatment includes flushing out the socket, medicated dressings, pain medications and self-care measures that you need to practice at home.