While dentists do everything in their power to prevent tooth loss, it is sometimes necessary to remove a tooth to preserve the health of the rest of the smile. While this often happens due to advanced oral infections or impacted wisdom teeth, it can also be because the mouth does not have enough room for a full set of pearly whites or to make space for an orthodontic treatment. Here’s a brief guide to what causes the severely painful condition called dry socket after extraction and how you can prevent it.
How Are Tooth Extractions Performed?
Before performing a tooth extraction, your dentist or oral surgeon will administer an appropriate anesthetic to ensure your comfort, and you may receive a sedation treatment if necessary. Once your mouth is numb, they will use a device called an elevator to lift the targeted tooth from its socket and gently work it loose using forceps. In some cases, it may be necessary to make a small incision in the gum tissue to free the tooth.
Tooth extractions typically involve stronger forms of anesthesia that require patients to arrange for trusted individuals to drive them home afterwards. You can expect to receive detailed aftercare instructions to ensure that your healing process goes smoothly.
What Is Dry Socket?
Dry socket refers to when the blood clot forming over the empty socket where an extracted tooth once was becomes compromised, which exposes the vulnerable tissues within to the oral environment. This condition can happen because the blood clot breaks or falls off the surgical site, and it can be quite painful. The best way to prevent dry socket as well as other complications after tooth extraction is to carefully adhere to your dentist’s aftercare instructions.
How Can I Avoid Dry Socket?
Luckily, dry socket is quite easy to prevent. You can minimize your risk of developing this condition by:
- Refraining from poking at the surgical site with your tongue, fingers, or anything else.
- Abstaining from spitting or drinking through a straw, as these actions cause pressure shifts within the mouth that can dislodge your blood clot.
- Avoiding strenuous physical activity for a few days after your extraction.
- Sticking to a soft diet of mild foods like smoothies, yogurt, mashed potatoes, and steamed veggies until you can chew tougher fare comfortably.
Dry socket is pretty miserable, but you can avoid it with the proper precautions. Observing your dentist’s aftercare instructions can help you keep your smile comfortable and your recovery process smooth after tooth extraction.
About the Author
Dr. David Tillman earned his dental degree at the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston, and he has completed more than 2500 hours of postgraduate education. He also holds Fellowships with the International College of Dentists, the Internation Congress of Oral Implantologists, and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. His office in Fort Worth offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as extraction services. To learn more about tooth extraction aftercare, contact his office online or dial (817) 870-4746.