At Lancaster Dental Care Associates in Lancaster, California, Kamran Saidara, DDS, and our experienced team are committed to ensuring every oral surgery is as smooth and comfortable as possible.
While tooth extractions are routine, proper aftercare is essential to prevent complications, such as a dry socket. A dry socket is a painful condition that occurs when the blood clot that forms in the empty socket fails to develop, dissolves, or is dislodged before the wound has healed.
This exposes the underlying bone and nerves, thereby leading to intense pain and delaying your recovery.
Normally, a protective blood clot forms in the socket after a tooth is pulled. This clot covers the bone and nerves while the site heals.
Dry socket happens when this clot is lost, leaving the sensitive structures underneath exposed to air, food, and fluids, which causes significant pain and discomfort. It affects about 2-5% of all tooth extractions and is most common after wisdom teeth removal.
Several factors can increase your risk of developing a dry socket, including:
Chemicals in tobacco can slow healing, and the act of inhaling can dislodge the blood clot.
An unclean mouth can introduce bacteria to the extraction site, preventing healing and leading to painful infection.
The suction created when using a straw can easily pull the clot out of place.
More complex procedures can increase the likelihood of this complication.
Following our team’s instructions after your tooth extraction is the best way to ensure a complication-free recovery. Dr. Saidara and our staff provide detailed guidance, but here are some of the most important steps you can take to prevent a dry socket.
For the first 24 hours, focus on allowing the blood clot to form and stabilize. You should rest and avoid any strenuous activity.
Gently bite on the gauze pack we provide and change it as directed. Eat only soft foods such as yogurt, applesauce, and pudding. Avoid hot liquids, alcohol, and carbonated beverages. Do not brush the teeth near the extraction site, and avoid rinsing your mouth vigorously.
Continue to eat soft foods and gradually reintroduce firmer foods as you feel comfortable.
For at least a week, do not use a straw or spit forcefully. You can begin to gently rinse your mouth with a warm saltwater solution (1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of water) after 24 hours to keep the area clean.
If you smoke, avoid it for as long as possible, but for at least 48 hours after your surgery.
Pain is normal after an extraction, but it should gradually decrease. If you experience severe, throbbing pain that radiates to your ear or neck a few days after your procedure, you may have a dry socket.
Other symptoms include a bad taste in your mouth, bad breath, and a visibly empty socket.
If you suspect you have a dry socket or if your pain worsens, contact us right away. At Lancaster Dental Care Associates, we’re here to help you through every step of your recovery.
To learn more about oral surgery or to schedule a consultation, call our Lancaster, California, office at 661-215-8130 or request an appointment online.
