While no one is ever overjoyed to learn that they need to have a tooth extracted, this procedure can be the best way to preserve a patient’s oral health in many cases. For example, a decayed tooth can spread its infection to other areas of the mouth if it is not removed, and extraction can often relieve the constant pain that can arise from dental crowding. However, dry socket is a severely painful complication that can happen after a tooth extraction. Here’s what this condition is and how you can avoid it.
How Are Teeth Extracted?
When performing a tooth extraction, your dentist will begin by administering an appropriate anesthetic to ensure that you feel no pain before using a specialized device called an elevator to lift the troubled tooth from its socket. Then, they will gently work the tooth loose from its connective tissue until it separates from the gums completely. Your dentist will then seal your wound and provide you with detailed aftercare instructions to help you enjoy a speedy and complication-free recovery.
What Is Dry Socket?
Dry socket happens when the blood clot forming over the surgical wound left by a tooth extraction breaks or becomes dislodged. This exposes the vulnerable and stressed soft, bone, and nerve tissues within the wound to air and the oral environment. This condition is severely painful and can lead to nasty oral infections if left unaddressed, so it’s important to contact your emergency dentist for help as soon as it develops.
How Can I Prevent Dry Socket?
Luckily, dry socket is easy to avoid if you take a few simple measures while recovering after tooth extraction. A few of these include:
- Refraining from spitting or drinking through a straw, as these actions cause frequent pressure shifts inside the mouth that can loosen a blood clot.
- Being gentle when brushing and flossing around the surgical area.
- Not probing at the surgical site with your tongue or fingers.
- Chewing on the side of the mouth opposite to the extraction site.
Don’t let dry socket bring you misery and prolong your recovery after tooth extraction. Adhering to your dentist’s postoperative instructions will allow you to enjoy a smooth healing process.
About the Practice
My Ellicott City Dentist offers the most excellent oral healthcare in town. Led by Drs. Andrew Aziz and Giatu Bui, the staff treats each patient with exemplary courtesy and outstanding customer service. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry such as tooth extractions. To learn more about keeping your post-extraction recovery process smooth, contact the practice online or dial (410) 480-2000.