Dry sockets affect only a small percentage of patients who have undergone wisdom teeth removal. When dry sockets do occur, however, the pain can become quite intense. All wisdom teeth removal procedures leave you feeling a bit sore and uncomfortable, but dry sockets present a completely different problem. The pain intensity ramps up. So, how can you know whether you have dry sockets? What exactly are dry sockets anyway? In today’s Parkcrest Dental Group blog, we go over the symptoms and causes of dry sockets, and ways to cope.
Symptoms of Dry Sockets
Dry sockets develop after typical tooth extraction procedures or wisdom teeth removal procedures. If brushing your teeth doesn’t relieve your bad breath and a nasty taste in your mouth, then you may have dry sockets. Pain, not bad breath, however, defines dry sockets. You will feel intense pain when you eat, drink cold water, or breathe chilly air. You will feel this pain in your gums, in your jaw, and sometimes in your ear. If you do not receive treatment, the pain and other symptoms can last a few weeks.
What Causes Dry Sockets?
When your dentist in Springfield, MO, performs a wisdom teeth removal procedure, he or she exposes your bone. Most people heal by forming a blood clot where the bone once was. Dry sockets occur when either this blood clot doesn’t form or something happens to dislodge this blood clot from the socket.
A few different factors can make someone more likely to get dry sockets. If you drink through a straw or rinse and spit more often than your dentist prescribes, you are more susceptible to dry sockets. Bad oral hygiene, smoking, and high estrogen levels from birth control pills can also increase your likelihood of developing dry sockets.
Treatments for Dry Sockets
Your Parkcrest Dental Group dentist in Springfield, MO, can help you manage the pain if over-the-counter painkillers don’t work. Your dentist might ask you to come into the office and anaesthetize the area before removing any debris from the socket. Once they clean the area, they will place a dressing or a medicated paste to help your gums heal. Sometimes you may need antibiotics to reduce the likelihood of infection.
Wisdom Teeth Removal at Parkcrest Dental Group
Most people receive wisdom teeth removal without having any complications. You will typically feel pain for the first day before your sockets begin healing and feeling more and more comfortable. If you believe you might need wisdom teeth removal, you should talk to your dentist. If you are looking for a friendly, helpful dentist in Springfield, MO, contact Parkcrest Dental Group today.
Related Post: Wisdom Teeth Removal: What Should I Expect?
