If a blood clot fails to develop, the bone, nerves, and raw tissues all get exposed. Sometimes the bone underneath the socket is fully exposed, and other times bacteria or food particles may cover it. In the latter case, a dry socket can look like a black, green, or yellowish formation.
After a tooth extraction, you should develop a blood clot in the socket (hole) that's left behind. It'll look like a dark-colored scab.
In most cases, the bone in the socket or the area around it becomes exposed, giving it a different color from the rest of the gum and teeth. Because there is no blood clot formed, the area appears dry, empty and with a seemingly white or bone-like color.
It's essential not to panic if you think you might have a cavity in your wisdom tooth. A cavity forms after plaque builds up. Plaque contains acid, which erodes the enamel on the surface. The hole in the protective layer might look like a black dot or dark discolouration.
A dry socket is problematic as it may cause bone and nerve exposure. You may have a dry socket if: You can see a visible bone in the socket, or your socket appears grey or empty-looking.
If you recently had a tooth extracted, you may notice a white formation in your tooth socket. This white material is usually granulation tissue, a fragile tissue composed of blood vessels, collagen, and white blood cells. Granulation tissue is a normal part of your body's healing process and is not cause for concern.
Dry socket typically heals within 7-10 days. After this time, new tissue has been able to cover the visible bone and the wound has begun to heal. For patients with thin alveolar bone, such as those with periodontal disease, healing may take longer.
Is Discoloration normal after having your wisdom teeth removed? In some cases, discoloration of the skin follows swelling. The development of black, blue, green, or yellow discoloration is due to blood spreading beneath the tissues. This is a normal post-operative occurrence, which may occur 2-3 days post-operatively.
When Can I Stop Worrying About Dry Socket? Until the full recovery of your extraction site, a dry socket can form if you fail to follow the care tips. Usually, a week (7-8 days) after wisdom tooth extraction, you can stop worrying about a dry socket as gums take this much time to close fully.
Dry sockets become increasingly painful in the days after a tooth extraction. They may also have exposed bone or tissue, or an unpleasant smell. By comparison, normal healing sockets get less painful over time and do not cause any other symptoms. A dry socket can be very painful, but it is not usually serious.
You often cannot see a dry socket. Discoloration of a healing site is normal. A normal clot will often appear white in the mouth as it matures. The pain may keep you up at night and is often not fully treated by over the counter pain medicines.
Identification of dry socket
You probably experience a dry socket if you can look into your open mouth in a mirror and see the bone where your tooth was before. The explicit throbbing pain in your jaw represents another telltale signal of dry sockets.
Treating a Dry Socket with Paste
After flushing the socket to remove food and debris, your dentist will pack it with a medicated dressing in the form of a paste. One of the ingredients in dry socket paste is eugenol, which is present in clove oil and acts as an anesthetic.
Pus Discharge: If yellow or white pus discharges in the area of the empty socket or surrounding areas in the mouth, you may have an infection. Development of a Fever: While fever is an indicator of several different health issues, if one develops after a tooth extraction, it may be due to a developing infection.
A dry socket occurs when the blood clot breaks down or is dislodged, exposing the bone and nerves. The first five or so days after extraction are the most critical, and it is during this time that the risk for a dry socket is the highest.
Dry socket is not something you should be afraid of or worried about. It is a temporary condition that needs proper treatment. It is common to have queries about dry socket and its treatment. The dental team at Frank Son DDS addresses some commonly asked questions by the patients.
In most cases the gums completely grow over and close the tooth extraction socket within one to two weeks. Over the next year, the blood clot is replaced by bone that fills the socket.
Dry socket usually occurs within 3-5 days of an extraction and more commonly in the lower jaw. Symptoms include severe pain, a throbbing sensation, an unpleasant taste, a fever, or swollen glands. It can last for up to 7 days. By following your dentist's instructions carefully, dry socket can usually be prevented.
Antibiotics given just before or just after surgery (or both) may reduce the risk of infection and dry socket after the removal of wisdom teeth by oral surgeons. However, antibiotics may cause more (generally brief and minor) unwanted effects for these patients.
A dry socket usually lasts seven days. However, pain can be felt as early as the third day after the extraction. A blood clot forms at the tooth extraction site to heal and protect it. However, the clot either dislodges, dissolves too quickly, or never forms with dry sockets.
While it is normal for the area surrounding the extraction to be red and swollen, signs that could indicate a possible infection include: Pus: A white or yellow pus may be discharged from the socket. Swelling: Initial swelling is normal, but continued swelling could be cause for concern.
The tooth extraction healing process can be divided into three stages: The inflammatory stage, repair stage, and remodeling stage.