How Long Does Dry Socket Last After Wisdom Teeth Removal?

How Long Does Dry Socket Last After Wisdom Teeth Removal?

September 1, 2022

Dental extraction rectifies misalignment, impaction, infections, and discomfort. Once the tooth is pulled out, you will experience relief from any pain and can proceed with orthodontics. However, a complication may arise after tooth extraction near you, known as a dry socket. Continue reading to learn about the dry socket condition.

What Is a Dry Socket?

After dental extraction takes some days for the hole in the bone where the tooth is removed and the gums to heal. The hole known as a socket can be left exposed to whatever enters the mouth and is prone to infections. Fortunately, this hardly happens because a blood clot forms on the socket. It protects the underlying bone and nerves.

However, the clot may dissolve or dislodge a few days after dental extraction. As a result, the tooth socket and nerves lose their cover and protection. They come into contact with food particles, fluids, air, and bacteria resulting in a painful dry socket infection.

The condition can affect anyone, particularly after the extraction of lower wisdom teeth. Yet, some people are more likely to develop dry sockets after wisdom tooth extraction. These are those who smoke, have poor oral hygiene, or use birth control pills. The good news is dry sockets can be prevented or treated by a dentist near South Cambie in Vancouver.

What Are the Symptoms of Dry Socket?

The first sign of a dry socket you will notice is an opening that shows whitish bone where the tooth was extracted. You will not see a dark red blood clot over the socket. Pain due to the dry socket will start two to five days after the tooth removal. It will be too severe to be alleviated with over-the-counter medicine and may radiate to your ear and face.

You may also notice bad breath caused by an infection in the wound in the extraction area. Some people have an unpleasant taste in the mouth and pus, which signifies infection. Others develop a fever, swollen glands, nausea, and vomiting. Call the emergency dentist on Kingsway when you notice these symptoms of dry socket.

Dry Socket Treatment

When you have a dry socket after tooth extraction near you, it is crucial to return to your dentist’s office. The dentist will first examine the tooth socket to check the extent of the infection. Next, they will clean and irrigate the site to eliminate food particles and debris from the hole.

Afterward, they will dry the socket and place medicated gauze on it. Next, the experts will provide instructions for cleaning and replacing the gauze for the next several days. Finally, they will prescribe pain medication that will work for your pain levels.

If the infection after tooth extraction in Vancouver is severe, you will get antibiotics to treat it. Patients who smoke are instructed to avoid smoking until after the socket heals. If necessary, the dentist may perform bone grafting. They may also place the surgical foam on the extraction site to promote healing.

Dry Socket Healing Time After Wisdom Tooth Extraction

After your treatment, it may take 7-10 days for a dry socket to heal. This is because new tissue must grow and cover the exposed dental bone. People with a compromised immune system, periodontal disease, or thin bones may take longer to heal.

However, if the condition is left untreated, the symptoms will continue. They can last 1-2 weeks or until the body initiates self-healing.

How to Prevent Dry Socket?

Dry socket complications can be prevented. You can take precautions after tooth extraction in Vancouver to prevent dry sockets. The dentist may advise you to:

  •     Avoid smoking or using tobacco products until ten days after tooth removal
  •     Do not drink through a straw, and stay away from carbonated drinks
  •     Avoid rinsing your mouth vigorously or spitting forcefully
  •     Eat soft foods or a liquid diet for the first four days after the procedure but avoid them if they are hot or spicy
  •     Rest for the first two days avoiding strenuous activities
  •     Take the prescribed antibiotics
  •     Follow the dentist’s instructions on personalized care at the extraction site

A dry socket condition is painful and interferes with your quality of life. Contact us at Phoenix Dental Implant and Invisalign Center for treatment if you have the disease.