dry socket Archives | Sterling Heights Dentist, Dr. Farhat of Dental 1 Care

Signs of Dry Socket

May 19, 2020 by dental1admin Leave a Comment

Dry socket refers to the inflammation of the alveolar bone or jawbone after your tooth has been extracted and the resultant blood clot is lost either partially or wholly. The loss of the blood clot halts or delays the healing process. This complication can cause you to develop bad breath and a throbbing headache several days after your tooth was extracted. Read on and learn what the experts at Dental One Care in Sterling Heights, MI have to say about what causes dry socket, signs of dry socket, and symptoms, and how it can be prevented.

Causes of Dry Socket

Bacterial causes. Oral bacteria or infections can prevent a blood clot from forming at the tooth extraction site. Dr. Fadi Farhat, the best dentist in Sterling Heights MI, adds that bacteria present in the mouth can also break down the clot, resulting in a dry socket.
Chemical causes. Nicotine, found in cigarettes, is one of the most common chemicals that can cause a dry socket. It inhibits blood flow to the extraction site and dry socket will result.
Mechanical causes, such as rinsing your mouth aggressively, sucking on a straw, dragging on a cigarette or even spitting can all cause you to lose the blood clot that had formed at the tooth extraction site.
Physiologic factors, such as having a poor supply of blood, having dense bones and hormonal changes, can also result in a dry socket.

Who is at Risk of Dry Socket?

Many risk factors exist for predisposing someone to dry socket. The experts at Dental One Care highlight the following as some of those risk factors:

Smoking
History or presence of gum disease
Extraction of impacted wisdom teeth
Age. People who are older than 30 years of age are at a higher risk of dry socket since their bones are denser, they have a reduced blood supply to the mouth and the extraction process is likely to be more traumatic than that done on a younger person.
Being a woman is also a risk factor since the hormonal changes experienced may affect the blood supply to the extraction site.

If you are concerned about the possibility of dry socket when your tooth is extracted, talk to Dr. Fadi Farhat and you will have your concerns addressed, including what measures are available to minimize the likelihood of the problem from developing.

Signs and Symptoms of Dry Socket

A throbbing headache that develops a few days after your tooth is extracted
A bad taste in your mouth
Bad breath
Clearly visible jawbone in the socket
The tissues around the extraction site become gray
Total or partial absence of a blood clot at the extraction site

Diagnosis of Dry Socket

When you suspect that you have dry socket and you visit Dental One Care in Sterling Heights MI, Dr. Fafdi Farhat will usually base on the symptoms you describe, as well as a dental exam, to determine whether what you are experiencing is indeed dry socket.

For example, it is normal to experience pain when a tooth is extracted, but that pain subsides over the coming days after the procedure. So, if the pain develops days after the tooth extraction, it is likely that you have developed dry socket. Nearly all cases of dry socket develop within the first week after an extraction, so yours may be a different problem if it occurs more than a week after your tooth was extracted.

Can Dry Socket Be Prevented?

Many measures can be taken to prevent or reduce the risk of dry socket from manifesting. We asked our friend, Dr. Jordan Smith, a dentist in Georgetown, KY to for tips on how to prevent dry socket. Dr. Smith recommends the following:

Having the tooth extracted while you are in your monthly period (to avert dry socket related to hormonal changes during the different stages of a woman’s menstrual cycle).
Placing some packing at the extraction site immediately after the extraction procedure.
Use of sutures to protect the clot from being dislodged
Avoid smoking, using a straw or any other device that could dislodge the blood clot.
Refrain from heavy physical activity the first few days after the procedure
Eat soft foods only to avoid putting pressure on the extraction site.
Use an antibacterial rinse to keep the extraction site clean.

Don’t worry if you are diagnosed with dry socket after you had your tooth extracted. The condition can be treated and you will heal within 7-10 days. Besides, there is hardly a chance of permanent damage if you suffer from dry socket. The experts at Dental One Care can also treat the symptoms associated with dry socket, so don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment if you notice that the clot has been dislodged as you heal after a tooth extraction.

Everything You Need to Know About Dry Socket

May 16, 2019 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

Dry socket commonly occurs after the extraction of an adult tooth. The condition is painful and happens when the blood clot does not properly develop in the area from which the tooth is pulled out. While the healing process after the extraction generally goes well, individuals that smoke, don’t have good oral hygiene, or have had complications during the tooth extraction can experience dry socket. In this article, we look into this oral problem.

What are the symptoms of dry socket?

It isn’t very difficult to identify when you have dry socket since there are quite a few signs. The symptoms will always appear in the area where the tooth was extracted from. When examining the area, you will notice it is dry and has a bone-like, white color. Normally, after extraction, the area should appear to as a dark red color, which means there is a blood clot in presence. However, if you don’t notice this, then you need to contact your dentist in Sterling Heights, MI for a checkup to ensure that the area is healing as it should or not.

Individuals that don’t spot the problem at early stages tend to experience the following symptoms:

Pain and aching at the site of the extraction, this usually starts a couple of days after the procedure.
The pain can also spread to other parts of the body such as the neck, ears, and face.
Unpleasant taste in the mouth along with the bad breath.

If at any time after an extraction, you experience any of the symptoms above, you likely have a dry socket. It is important you contact Dental One Care immediately and get treated for it.

What are your treatment options for dry socket?

To combat the pain experienced due to dry socket, your dentist will recommend the use of aspirin or any other anti-inflammatory drug. Most of the time the painkiller will be enough to relieve you of the pain. However, if pain still persists then anesthesia may be the only option. It will be applied to the area of the extraction. But this is just to treat the pain, the dentist will need to treat your dry socket also.

Treatment for dry socket first starts off by cleaning of the tooth socket. Debris will be taken out from the socket and a special paste will be applied to fill the socket. You will then need to monitor the socket to see if a blood clot is formed or not. If after a few days it is still not present, you will need to visit your dentist again to have the dressing changed. The dentist may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent any infection in the socket.

How can you prevent dry socket?

We asked our friend, Dr. Ben Kacos, a dentist in Shreveport, LA, about preventing dry socket. Dr. Kacos says there are a few steps you can take to prevent dry socket. After tooth extraction, there are certain measures you can take that can help prevent dry socket from occurring. These are:

Avoid straws: The act of suction while using a straw may have an impact on the blood cloth, dislodging it. You can consult your dentist to get an idea of how long you should go without the use of a straw.
No smoking: You will need to avoid smoking altogether after extraction. If you are an avid smoker and find it hard to stop then look for an alternative like a nicotine patch. You can also ask your dentist to apply stitches on the site of surgery and while smoking apply a gauze over it.
No gum or hard food: The act of chewing can dislodge the blood clot in the socket. You want to make sure you don’t chew excessively and stick to food that is not too hard.

What to do if you can’t see a dentist for dry socket right away?

If for any reason you aren’t able to go to your dentist but have the symptoms of dry socket, there are steps you can take immediately to help reduce any risk of infection. Don’t think that the problem will solve itself, you need to take the proper measure to help it from becoming a bigger problem. The following tips will help you do that:

Throughout the day, rinse your mouth with warm salt water. You need to do this a few times during the course of the day. If there is swelling, apply a cold pack to the affected area of your face to reduce it. To help with the pain, you can apply a washcloth that has been dipped in warm water to your face.

The best course to take if you have even at the slightest possibility of dry socket is to see your dentist. They can help you treat and prevent any infection in the socket. Furthermore, they can help you manage the pain that may be unbearable for some.

How to Prevent Dry Socket After Wisdom Tooth Removal?

December 28, 2018 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

How to Prevent Dry Socket After Wisdom Tooth Removal?

People who’ve had a tooth extracted may have heard of dry socket before. Dry socket is a common complication that occurs after a tooth is extracted. So what is dry socket and why should you do everything possible to prevent it after a tooth extraction? Read on and learn how to prevent dry socket after wisdom tooth removal.

What Dry Socket Is

Dry socket, also known as alveolar osteitis, describes a painful condition that results when the blood clot covering a tooth extraction site is dislodged before the underlying nerve tissues and bone have healed. The premature loss of this protective clot lengthens the healing time and results in a lot of discomfort and pain.

How Do Know You Have Dry Socket?

Dr. Farhat, a dentist in Sterling Heights, MI, explains that it ’s normal to feel some pain after having your wisdom teeth removed surgically. However, this pain is transient and ends a few days after the extraction.

So, patients can suspect that they have dry socket if they experience intense pain that spreads to the face and head days after the surgery. Bad breath may also indicate that one has dry socket, especially if they don’t have a history of halitosis.

The professionals at Dental One Care also advise that patients observe the surgical site in a mirror. Dry socket should be suspected if the surgical site is fully or partially empty (lacking the blood clot which formed after the surgery).

How to Prevent Dry Socket

Don’t use drinking straws. The suction force created as one is using a straw can easily dislodge the blood clot at the tooth extraction site. Dr. Farhat, therefore, recommends that you refrain from using a straw for at least one week after you have had a tooth extracted. That abstinence will allow the site to heal under the protection provided by the blood clot.

Opt for softer foods. It is also wise to opt for soft foods during the days following tooth extraction. The soft foods will cause less stress on the surgical site as you eat. For example, eat mashed potatoes, yogurt, soup in the first two or so days after the surgery. Try harder foods later and revert to the soft ones if you feel pain.

Refrain from tobacco use or smoking. We asked our friend, Dr. Dennis Laurich, a dentist in Canton, MI about how to prevent dry socket. Dr. Laurich says that the risk of dry socket increased threefold for smokers when compared to non-smokers. He says this is because the act of smoking entails a sucking force that can dislodge the blood clot at the surgical site. Additionally, the chemicals in the tobacco and any other substance that one may smoke can also interfere with the body’s healing processes, such as causing the clot to dissolve prematurely. You should work with your dentist in Sterling Heights, MI, to find a way to reduce or abstain from smoking and the use of tobacco until you have healed after wisdom tooth extraction.

Be meticulous in your oral hygiene. Another tip for those who want to learn how to prevent dry socket is that they should be particular about their oral hygiene during this healing period. Oral germs can prevent a blood clot from forming, or they can break it down once it forms. Talk to your Sterling Heights dentist about how you should brush your teeth, as well as the use of antibacterial mouthwash that may be helpful in preventing infection while you heal.

Talk to the dentist about other medications. Discuss any medications that you are currently taking as you prepare for surgery to remove wisdom teeth. You should also consult your dentist in case any medication is prescribed for another condition within the time that you are healing after undergoing tooth extraction surgery. For example, oral contraceptives have been linked to causing dry socket.

Call a dentist in Sterling Heights, such as Dr. Farhat, if you suspect that you have a dry socket. The Dental One Care team will advise you about what you should do next. Otherwise, do everything you can to implement the advice given above on how to prevent dry socket.