What on earth is dry socket?!
Question:
What on earth is dry socket?
Last week I asked for advice after an extraction I'd had. Several people mentioned that I might have and that they'd had 'dry socket' can anyone tell me what this is? What happens if it isn't treated etc.
Thanks
Answers:
For an extraction site to heal properly, it needs to be plugged up with a blood clot so that it will scab over and heal.
If the blood clot falls out of the empty tooth socket after an extraction, bare bone gets exposed to the oral cavity and becomes inflammed. The resulting painful inflammation is called alveolar osteitis, otherwise known as "dry socket."
If it isn't treated, it will continue to hurt a great deal and complications like an infected jawbone may result.
Hope this helps.