Dry Socket

Dry socket, otherwise called alveolar osteitis, is an extremely painful complication of extraction. The socket from where the tooth is extracted usually contains the blood clot, which helps in healing. But in this condition, the blood clot dislodges and exposes the underlying bone and nerves.

  
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I have a foul-smelling discharge after tooth removal. Why?

Query: Hello doctor, I had all four wisdom teeth pulled nine days ago. Only the one on the bottom right tooth is very painful and when I push near it all this foul smelling yellow stuff comes out. What is wrong? Also, having headaches.  Read Full »


Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. You may have dry socket condition on that side. It occurs due to loss of blood clot in the early days since extraction. Use warm salt water gargle twice a day for a week or two to get some relief. You may need antibiotics and painkillers for a week or two. So, go b...  Read Full »

I underwent a tooth extraction five weeks ago and I am still experiencing severe pain on the affected side. Kindly help.

Query: Hello doctor, I underwent a tooth extraction five weeks ago, and it quickly became infected. I received treatment to clean and pack the area, and I took two courses of Amoxicillin and one course of Metronidazole. However, I am still experiencing severe pain in the entire affected side of my face, in...  Read Full »


Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I read your query and understood your concern. I have reviewed the photos you attached (attachments removed to protect the patient’s identity) and I can only observe blood clots. It seems that the socket is not adequately compressed. This pain may be attributed to ...  Read Full »

What is the recovery time after the removal of horizontally impacted wisdom tooth?

Query: Hello doctor, I am 29 years old and had my lower wisdom tooth removed eight days ago. They were horizontally impacted. My question is why am I still in pain? I do not have pain in my extraction site. The pain is in the hinges of my jaw and down in my jaw bone. My extraction site looks fine, pink hea...  Read Full »


Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. This type of extraction (lower wisdom tooth) is difficult and usually takes at least two weeks of healing time. It can be painful till then due to removal of some bone from the sides of the impacted wisdom teeth. Think as if you had a fracture in that area; fractures...  Read Full »

I have severe pain after wisdom tooth extraction. Please help.

Query: Hello doctor, I got one of my wisdom teeth taken out a week back. My stitches came out and now there is a big hole where the tooth was extracted. My dentist gave me nothing, not cleaning tools at all. I am just freaking out because their office is closed. What should I do about the giant hole? It h...  Read Full »


Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. If it hurts a lot, it means that you have a dry socket condition, where the blood clot gets dislodged from the wound causing infection. You need to start taking antibiotics like Augmentin 625 mg and a painkiller. Also, use warm salt water gargling three times a day. ...  Read Full »

How should I manage pain and fever after tooth extraction?

Query: Hello doctor, I had a tooth pulled a few days back. The pain started getting bad the next day. Pain medicines are not working, running a fever and vomiting every day since.  Read Full »


Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. It can be the case of dry socket and your tooth area would be naked right now. Send a picture of the area if possible and radiograph if you have. I feel the doctor must have taken precautions as you are on contraceptives which are likely to induce it. Send your details ...  Read Full »

When should I remove the guaze piece after wisdom tooth extraction?

Query: Hello doctor, I got my wisdom tooth extracted. It has been 10 hours since the tooth had been take out. How long should I keep my gauze in? I have read articles on recovery, and it says a lot of reference to "dry socket," which I am trying to avoid.  Read Full »


Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. The gauze piece can be generally removed after one to two hours, provided everything is normal. Otherwise, you can change the gauze piece, along with the medication on it, and you can put fresh cotton. I do not know what your dentist had suggested to you. But I would s...  Read Full »

Why do I have swelling after tooth removal?

Query: Hello doctor,I had my wisdom teeth removed before four days. Even after two days, my swelling has not gone down. I also have mild to moderate pain coming from the site of extraction, that also seems to affect my jaw. My jaw is stiff, and it hurts when I talk too much or move (look down, left, and ri...  Read Full »


Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. It is due to traumatic extraction and lack of proper precautions taken during tooth removal. It happens either due to wrong injection technique, lack of appropriate stabilization from the jaws, particularly lower jaw. Moreover, the probability of dry socket cannot be...  Read Full »

Why is my dry socket not getting better despite packing it?

Query: Hi doctor, I had four teeth extracted a week ago, two on top and two on the bottom. I did not get numb at all, so I felt it all. I was diagnosed with a dry socket on the bottom. The dentist that I went to packed it twice now, after 4 to 5 days. As the extracted teeth were adjacent teeth, so when he ...  Read Full »


Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have gone through your query. Dry socket after extraction is caused due to the blood clot getting dislodged from the extraction socket. So ideally, the dry socket should be curetted, which means it should be cleaned and irrigated with medicine, and an obtundent dr...  Read Full »

Why do I have pus discharge and pain a week after extraction?

Query: Hello doctor,I had a third molar or a wisdom tooth removed, which was impacted a week back. I had three stitches after the procedure. I have swelling and pain when I open my mouth. The pain is reducing every day. Today, I noticed pus formation, and with slight pressure, it came out. It was orangish-...  Read Full »


Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Well, this condition is known as dry socket. All you need to do is visit any nearby dentist if possible and get this cleaned or washed properly. Maybe after extraction, you spitted something forcefully in 24 hours. This condition is normal. Drink a good amount of wat...  Read Full »

After tooth removal, I have pain and a bad taste. Why?

Query: Hello doctor, I got my wisdom teeth out two weeks back. It is now paining a lot, and I also have a bad taste in my mouth. Is it due to infection?  Read Full »


Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Sadly, Yes! Your history is giving symptoms of post-operative infection. If the pain is sharp just at the socket point, then clean this area thoroughly and start saline water mouth rinses at least 8 times a day for 2 weeks. This is best for the fast healing of the wound...  Read Full »

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