Hi, I'm in the process of extracting all my infectious root canal teeth,but unfortunately one of the pre molars developed a dry socket afterwards. The pain is like constant dull pain,like someone slash my gum with a knife. Yesterday my dentist put some brown tobacco like things in there, it works for a day and the morning the pain is coming back. I need to see the doctor again, my question is, is the best method to deal dry socket is to open the wound,scrape the bone and let the socket firm another layer of blood clot? If so, I will ask my doctor to do it, because I really don't want to do another packing and then got hurt again by weekend. Plus I heard in that way cavitation is easily to form later.

Thanks for anyone's kind help.

Hi Vichen,

A dry socket occurs when the blood clot doesn't form properly or it dislodges soon after the extraction. The brown packing is either gauze soaked in clove oil or a pre medicated packing with clove oil. It is only effective for about 24 or so hours. Having it replaced every day or two for about a week can be get the healing going again.

If the surgical socket was not thoroughly debrided after the extraction of the tooth and that is what caused the clot to not form properly, then the site may need to be scraped clean in order to get a healthy blood flow to form a proper clot.

Ask the dentist if he feels that he scraped the bone clean or if he feels it needs to be done again.

Hope this information is helpful to you.
Bryanna

Thank you so much,Bryanna! I will ask my doctor to do it again.

Vichen

The surgical socket should only be scraped a second time if it needs to be. Otherwise, if it is healing okay, then it should not be scraped again.

I hope I clarified that okay

Bryanna

EEWW OUCH, I've had dry socket. It's miserable Good luck at the dentist.

Hello Bryanna,

I just came back from my dentist,he did open the socket and clean out the bone to let it bleed to form a new blood clot. One thing I'm still confused is he said I still have dry socket and he didn't put new dressing there because we cleaned everything and form a new blood clot. And now I'm back home, and Gosh, it does have a very bad swollen pain. I'm so scared,I don't know whether this pain is from dry socket or from scraping the bone, will it become severe? I was expecting a new blood clot form there, and things can start all over again like a newly extraction, and bone can fill in normally from this blood clot. Am I wrong? Do I still have to live with dry socket pain from now on? Can anybody give me some advice? Thanks.

Geeze, whatever you do don't suck on anything. That'll pull it out again. It'll get better.

Hi Vichen,
I am sorry that you are going through this ordeal. I can't help you unfortunately, but would you mind telling me how many days exactly have passed since the extraction until you first noticed/diagnosed that you have a dry socket? Thank you!

About the forth day after extraction,I went back for checking and confirmed dry socket.

vichen,

Debriding the surgical socket a second time is similar to having the tooth extracted in that the bone and tissue has been scraped to cause new blood clots to form. The area can become swollen and painful. Some dentists feel that it is best to let clotting factors do their job without any interference such as adding the dry socket paste. Other dentists feel that the medication helps to soothe it. So there is no real right and wrong with either decision.

A dry socket normally has no symptoms until the 3rd to 4th day post op. So the pain and swelling that you have is likely from the recent debridement.
But you can call the dentist to inform him of your symptoms and get his advice.

Use an ice pack on the outside of your cheek, 20 minutes on every hour or two for the first 24 hours. Do not use ice after 24 hours. Do not rinse with anything for 24 hours. After that time, rinse with warm salt water VERY GENTLY about 3 times a day for 2 days, then if it's feeling okay rinse a bit more aggressively (not overly aggressive) after the 3rd/4th day until the hole in the gum closes over. Avoid mouthwash, avoid putting anything into the socket, brush the rest of your teeth with water and a pinch of baking soda and eat a nutritious soft food diet. Do not drink through a straw as that can pull out the clot or eat chewy foods and that can aggravate the jaw traumatized jaw muscle and cause muscle spasms.

If you feel you need to speak with the dentist, call him.

Bryanna