Question:
Does this sound like dry socket?
Ok so I had all my wisdom teeth removed 6 days ago. The first few days the pain wasn't as bad as I had expected, I was just quite swollen. Anyway I started eating more solid foods but have kept a regime of antibiotics, painkillers and mouthwash and haven't smoked or anything. But today, particularly after lunch and worsened after dinner, my bottom left cavity is hurting a LOT more than it did before! At first I thought I must have just aggravated it a bit from eating but the pain isn't going away. I still have my stitches in, and to be honest, although it's difficult to distinguish between the two, the pain feels centred around the wound exactly where the stitches are rather than actually inside my gum, but even slight movement of my facial muscles causes pain to the entire area, almost reaching my ear. It's basically a constant ache, not sharp pain unless I move my tongue over and touch the stitches. I wouldn't say it's excruciating but I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to take it! Does this sound like dry socket? Or is it 'normal' healing process? And if so why is it hurting so much more than my other ex teeth, which in comparison (especially the upper ones) feel hardly any pain! Painkillers aren't doing the trick, and my previously successful method of keeping crushed ice in the area isn't doing much help either. I'm seeing my dental surgeon on Wednesday, but if it's dry socket it's only going to get worse, and I go back to work on Monday argh!! Any help please?? Anyone with experience of this?
2 things to note. Within two hours of getting the surgery I was given apple juice to drink out of a straw...didn't know it at the time, but now I know that was a silly mistake by the nurses! Also, I'm on the contraceptive pill which I now know disrupts blood clotting...and i may have missed a few nights and taken 2 or 3 on a single day. So these are the only two factors I can think of that could directly lead to dry socket, as I have been very gentle and careful with everything else!
Answers:
Yes this does sound like dry socket. With dry socket you typically feel a constant "groaning" type pain that just does not go away and it usually starts a few days after the extraction. You need to call the doctor as soon as possable, if it is dry socket they will put some really smelly packing into the socket, it will hurt like hell while they do it but you will feel almost immediate relief once it is packed.Sometimes dry socket just happens even when you do everything right, i have had two lower teeth removed and both times it happened so i know how you are feeling right now. even though it is a weekend call the drs office they will help you asap. I hope you feel better soon
I have been a certified dental assistant for 11 years