Tooth extraction is sometimes the best way to preserve a patient’s oral and overall health, but it can lead to unpleasant complications if they do not comply with their aftercare instructions. In particular, dry socket is a miserably uncomfortable condition that happens if the protective clot forming over an extraction site is broken or dislodged. Here’s a brief guide to what dry socket is as well as a few tips for preventing it.
How Are Tooth Extractions Performed?
While it’s understandable that you might be nervous about needing a tooth extraction, the process is completely painless thanks to modern anesthetic methods. Your dentist will begin the procedure by administering an appropriate numbing agent to ensure that you stay comfortable, and you may also receive a sedation treatment if you need extra help staying still and calm. Your dentist will then raise the tooth from the gum using a device called an elevator before gently working it loose from its connective tissue with forceps.
In cases of complex extractions such as impacted wisdom teeth, your dentist may also make incisions in the gums to gain access to the tooth, and you may receive stitches afterward. Regardless of whether your extraction is simple or complex, the best way to ensure a smooth and comfortable recovery afterward is to comply with your dentist’s postoperative instructions.
What Is Dry Socket?
After a tooth is extracted, a blood clot will form over the wound to protect the vulnerable gum and jawbone tissues from injury and infection. However, certain stressors can compromise this clot, causing it to crack or break loose completely. This results in severe oral pain due to the surgical wound being exposed to the debris and germs in the mouth.
How Can I Prevent Dry Socket?
The best ways to prevent dry socket are to:
- Strictly comply with your dentist’s postoperative instructions
- Refrain from smoking
- Take special care to be gentle around the surgical site when brushing or flossing
- Avoid spitting and drinking through a straw, as these actions result in pressure shifts within the mouth that can dislodge your blood clot
If you develop dry socket, the best thing to do is to contact your dentist’s office for an emergency appointment while using over-the-counter pain medication according to the instructions printed on the label. However, this problem is easy to avoid if you follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions properly.
About the Practice
Blue Coast Dental Group offers the finest oral health services in Torrance. Led by Drs. Sanaz Hamzehpour, George Cho, Maria Galvan, and Pedram Marhabi, the staff ensures that each patient receives genuine compassion and outstanding courtesy in a clean and comforting office environment. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as extraction services. For more tooth extraction aftercare tips, contact the office online or dial (310) 424-3100.