If you’re currently preparing for a wisdom tooth extraction, it’s important to be aware of any problems that could occur after the procedure. In particular, some patients experience a dry socket after having their wisdom teeth taken out; this condition is not only highly uncomfortable, but it can also interfere with healing. But just how worried do you really need to be about a dry socket? Here’s a closer look at this issue, how likely it is to happen, and the steps you can take to avoid it.
What Exactly is a Dry Socket?
Following a wisdom tooth extraction, a blood clot will form at the extraction site. If this blood clot is dislodged in any way (or never forms in the first place), the result is a dry socket. This is a problem because the blood clot plays an important role in protecting the exposed bone tissue and nerves from harmful bacteria. Thus, the lack of a blood clot can lead to serious discomfort and even an infection.
What are the Chances of a Dry Socket Happening?
Statistics show that only about 2% to 5% of people experience a dry socket after having their teeth removed. As such, you don’t need to be overly worried about this condition occurring. That said, that doesn’t mean you can just completely ignore the possibility of it happening; it’s essential to take whatever steps you can to minimize your risk for a dry socket so that you can enjoy a smooth, complication-free recovery process.
How Can You Protect Yourself from Dry Socket?
Drinking through a straw, spitting, and directly touching the extraction site with your fingers or tongue can all potentially disturb your blood clot. As such, you will want to avoid doing these things while your mouth is recovering from your wisdom tooth extraction. You should also make a point of staying away from warm or hot drinks, as they can ultimately dissolve or dislodge the blood clot.
What Can You Do About a Dry Socket?
In the unlikely event that you do develop a dry socket, you should reach out to your dentist immediately to let them know what happened. They’ll make arrangements to see you as soon as they can in order to address the issue. In the meantime, you can rinse with salt water to reduce any inflammation you might be experiencing and kill the bacteria that could cause an infection. On top of that, you can manage your discomfort with ibuprofen or a similar over-the-counter pain reliever.
Remember, a dry socket is unlikely to happen after your wisdom tooth extraction, but “unlikely” is not the same as “impossible.” It’s essential to be proactive in taking appropriate measures to avoid this condition, and you should be ready to contact your dentist right away if it seems like a problem has occurred.
About the Practice
Here at Advanced Dental Care in Costa Mesa, our dentists are proud to help our patients meet all of their smile-related needs and goals. Among the many services we offer, we are proud to provide safe, gentle wisdom teeth extractions for patients with impacted or otherwise problematic third molars. If you think your wisdom teeth may need to be removed in the near future, you can schedule a consultation with our team by visiting our website or calling (714) 424-9099.