[0omingmak]

Hi... This is a bit long...sorry

I had my wisdom tooth out on 12/26/12.

I felt fine the day of the surgery and the day after (Thursday.)

Friday, I started to get a dull throb in my jaw and it got slightly worse Saturday and Sunday.

Scoured the internet for what this could be - read all about dry socket and concluded I didn't have it because I wasn't in agony like other people I had read about. Assumed it was jaw pain from rough handling during surgery or because of my age (late 30's.)

Went to the dentist this past Monday (12/31) just to be sure. He looked in my mouth and said I had the "beginnings" of dry socket.

He packed my socket with the clove gauze stuff - didn't irrigate the socket first... He told me I didnt need to come back in until the following Monday. it fell out the next morning. Spent Tuesday in pain..not excruciating, but definitely annoying. Went back to the dentist Wednesday. He packed my socket again and told me that it was looking "a bit" better. He said I shouldn't need to be packed again, because "4 out of 5 of his patients only need to be packed once."

I have scoured the internet...I know what dry socket is, what causes it, etc. I guess my problem is that I cant put the pieces of the information I have found together.

Here are my questions:

1. The "beginnings" of dry socket - How long does this last? I would assume Friday (12/28) was the beginning. This is when the pain began. By Monday (12/31) the pain was basically still the same. How long does it take for dry socket to reach peak pain? Do I have to worry about this getting way more painful?

2. This packing that the dentist put in yesterday (1/2/13 at 1pm) - How long am I supposed to keep it in there? It seems to be dissolving and the top few layers have fell out. I dont want to get an infection. Their office is closed until next Monday (I have an appointment that day) - should I try to keep it in that long or will I get an infection?

3. Does this clove oil/gauze packing hinder or help the granulation process? Being as that I am not in agonizing pain, should I forgo the packings and just ride it out? I am under the impression (and please, correct me if I am wrong) that the packing is only for pain relief. Does it actually do anything to help heal my gums?


4. The dentist prescribed me yet another round of Clindamycin "as a precaution." Because my wisdom tooth was infected and impacted, I was already on antibiotics - I just finished the last one Tuesday (1/1/13). And I had to take them in November too. Due to an anaphylectic (sp?) reaction I had to an antibiotic when I was younger, I get severe panic attacks when I have to take antibiotics. If there is no infection (confirmed by dentist) do I REALLY need to take another round of Clindamycin? It will be my 3rd one in 6 weeks and I dont want to go through the anxiety again, or deal with potential stomach issues.

Thank you for any insight you can give me