Dry Socket- Don't Lose that Blood Clot

Dry socket is a condition that occurs after you have had one or more teeth removed. The blood clot that forms over the site of the extraction dislodges; the resulting dry socket leaves bone and nerves exposed to outside forces. Dry socket can be a very painful experience, and occurs in approximately five percent of all tooth extractions, even more in wisdom teeth. Dry socket rarely leads to infection or further complications, but can be very unpleasant until the pain can be brought under control.

After a tooth is extracted, a blood clot will form, serving as a protective layer over the bone beneath where the tooth was and the exposed nerve endings in the now empty tooth socket. This clot affords the basis for the growth of new tissue and bone, but in some instances, the clot does not form properly or becomes dislodged before the healing process can be completed. The area is now exposed to the open air, and whatever food particles and fluids that come into contact with it. The consequence can be extreme pain, which can travel along the nerves that branch out to the ear and eye on that side of your face. There are several factors believed to contribute to dry socket, including potential bacterial contamination of the socket, whether the extraction was easy of difficult, and if the roots of the tooth or bone bits remain in the wound following surgery. The blood clot can be dislodged by sneezing, sucking actions from coughing, spitting, or smoking, or by not explicitly following the directions given to care for the area after the tooth is removed.