Medically referred to as alveolar osteitis, dry sockets are a problem that arise after the removal of a tooth. It is unlikely that patients with generally good oral health will ever experience dry sockets after the removal of a tooth, however, it is not unheard of and should be given some consideration here. With dry sockets, pain after a tooth extraction worsens and persists even after several days have passed since the removal of a tooth. This is because the hole in the bone where the extraction of the tooth occurred is not healing correctly, exposing sensitive nerve and bones to air, food, and liquid that comes into your mouth. The exposure to the elements causes significant pain and discomfort to patients and could lead to infection without proper care. An infection is sure to only increase the pain of dry sockets, so you should consult your dentist in Central London as quickly as possible. It is a painful experience no one wants to endure, but the great news is that dry sockets can be easily treated by a visit to the dentist. Your dentist will be able to block any exposed nerves with a dressing that will encourage healing as well as offer pain relief. If you are waiting to see the dentist, try taking an aspirin or an ibuprofen for temporary pain relief.

Sometimes after a dental operation there can be side effects or health consequences that you need to be aware of. One of the most common is called dry socket and will require treatment from your Central London dentist. Dry sockets occur when teeth have been extracted and blood clots form in the hole left by the missing tooth. If for any reason this clot gets washed away then it can leave the sensitive area and even the bone exposed to bacteria found in the mouth. I’m sure you don’t need to be told to imagine the wider health consequences this could have for the health of your mouth. Certain factors make patients more susceptible to dry sockets. These include smoking, diabetes and female patients who are using birth control medication.

One of the main symptoms of dry sockets is pain. This will initially occur around the area of the missing tooth but can quickly spread to other areas of the mouth if not treated quickly. This pain is often very severe and can’t be controlled with over-the-counter medication. The other main symptoms are a very bad taste in the mouth and having bad breath as a result of the infection that develops.

It is always, therefore, a good idea to keep an eye on any areas that have been the sight of a recent extraction or other dental surgery. If you suspect that you may be suffering, you need to make an appointment as soon as possible with your dentist. They will take an x-ray to examine for any signs of infection and then treat the area according to your needs.

However, the best way to avoid dry sockets is to make sure that your teeth are clean and in good condition before any kind of dental surgery. This can significantly reduce the chances of suffering.

A dry socket usually occurs when the blood clot is lost from the extraction site in the mouth after a tooth was removed. They usually occur more frequently at the lower wisdom teeth extraction sites than the upper wisdom teeth extraction sites. Your Central London dentist can give you advice about how to prevent a dry socket from occurring, and help treat a dry socket if it does occur. Prior and post oral surgery instruction will be given to you both orally and written if you are to have a tooth or teeth removed. Your Central London dentist will tell you to: keep the dental gauze in place that he places after the extraction for 20-30 minutes; eat soft foods and drink a lot of liquids for a few days; do not smoke as the sucking will dislodge the blood clot and the smoke in your mouth will change the bleed vessels in your gums and cause the blood clot to shrink to fast; and do not use alcoholic beverages as they will help to dissolve the blood clot. Also, medications that cause bleeding, such as ibuprofen, should not be used, but instead to use Tylenol-based products. Dental patients should also be told not to pick at the blood clot if they see excess tissue at the site area, as this will resorb itself during healing. Patients should not eat any hard or sharp foods like chips, as these might cut into the blood clot and get stuck in the extraction site and delay proper healing. If the blood clot is lost, a dry socket will occur, and this means that the extraction site will have to heal from the inside outwards. If you are in a lot of pain from a dry socket, you should visit your Central London dental clinic, and have a medicated dressing placed inside the extraction site to help deaden the nerve pain. You may need as many as three such treatments until your extraction site is healed. Dry sockets are not just limited to the wisdom teeth areas, and can occur following the extraction of any tooth/teeth. Make sure you follow your dentist’s directions to avoid this unpleasant experience.