Hi anj,
I can offer you some information to help you clarify some things. When there is a suspected dry socket, the dentist will numb the surgical area and use a curette instrument to remove the blood clot and scrape the bone inside the socket. This procedure is done to remove necrotic (non-vital) bone and granulation tissue that was left behind after the extraction. The scraping of the bone also causes a good amount of blood flow so a new blood clot will form. The clove oil is used to help soothe the surgical site, keep the clot from dissolving too quickly and speed the healing. If there were an infection on the gum or outside of the surgical wound, the socket would not have needed to be debrided and clove oil would most likely not been used.
STOP using the Corsodyl (chlorhexidine).... the burning and itching reaction indicates an allergy or sensitivity to it. I've had many patients who cannot tolerate that chemical and get the same reaction. Just use warm salt water rinses 3-4 times a day... no other mouthwash.
The white half moon area may be your bony ridge, which would be normal. The wound will remain open for several days but keep in mind that the blood clot inside of the socket is healing the wound from the inside out even though the wound is open. Eating a soft diet for the next several days is recommended so as not to disturb the surgical site.
If you smoke, drink alcohol or use mouthwash that contains alcohol, the surgical site may not heal well or at best it will take much longer to heal. Did your dentist suggest that you come back to see him in a few days to check the wound?
Bryanna
Quote:
Originally Posted by anjjiel
Hi there,
After having pain following the 2nd part of root canal treatment, on my upper left 1st molar, my dentist informed me there was an infection around the tooth. He told me he could give me some antibiotics and try to finish the root canal or extract the tooth. I was already taking some antibiotics (Cefalexin) prescribed from my Doctor for something else. I decided to have the tooth extracted last Friday (09/09/11). According to my dentist, the infection came out with the tooth, I continued with my cefalexin. During the weekend the gum tissue around the extraction area became increasingly sore and tender and my gum closest to my cheek feels a bit swollen, the gum tissue around the extraction area continued to sting when any liquids or even if my tongue slightly touched the area. I followed the correct aftercare advice. I did not start the salt water mouth wash until 24 hours later. Yesterday I went back to my dentist, he seems to think it is an infection in the gum, but not in the socket. He injected my gum with anaesthetic, which was very painful, as it was already sore. He removed some sort of "debris" from the socket, used a corsodyl filled syringe to wash/clean, then packed it with some clove paste. He told me to stop taking my cefalexin and he prescribed 500mg Amoxicillin 3 x daily for 5 days. After my dental visit I was feeling a strange itchy/burning sensation around all of my gums, is this usual? It seems to happen more after using the alcohol free corsodyl, however the itching/burning stinging sensation is always present around the extraction site. Is the stinging usual on the gum tissue around the socket? I am a little concerned about dry socket, I just used a mirror and light and it looks like (what can only be described) as a white half moon shape around one side of the extraction site and i can still see the hole, is this normal after having the extraction only 4 days ago? Last but not least, how long untill the extraction site heals enough for me to be able to eat properly? Sorry for all these questions, but I am going on holiday in 2 weeks and a little worried in case I feel no relief 
Thank you |