If you are chatting with friends or family about an upcoming oral surgery procedure, chances are someone will tell you to be sure not to get a dry socket. Dry socket (alveolar osteitis) can develop after a tooth extraction. Only about 1-3% of patients develop alveolar osteitis. After a tooth is extracted, a blood clot will form in the socket (this is a good thing). The blood clot protects the bone and nerves underneath it. If the blood clot becomes dislodged, the bone and nerves in the extraction site are exposed to air, water, food, etc. and can be very painful. You may be able to tell you have dry socket if your pain increases significantly 3-5 days after you had your wisdom teeth removed.
You may be able to prevent dry socket by:
- Not smoking
- Being very gentle with the area after surgery (no hard brushing, swishing or rinsing)
- Using gentle salt water rinses
- Making sure to have some downtime. No heavy exercise after surgery.
- Not using a straw.
- Not eating food that leaves remnants behind (popcorn, nuts, pasta).
- Using proper oral hygiene
Be sure to read your pre-operative and post-operative instructions so that you may have the most comfortable recovery possible. And always feel free to call our office with any questions you may have (206) 561-2345.
