Dry Sockets Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Dry socket or alveolar osteitis is a condition of pain in the teeth that occurs after the extraction of permanent teeth. This is caused by damage to the blood clotting process. As a result, the hole in the bone where the tooth was extracted is empty and triggers pain.
The pain usually occurs 2-5 days after an extraction. It can radiate to the neck, ears or head. In addition, sufferers of dry sockets generally experience bad breath.
Symptom
Signs and symptoms that arise during dry socket are:
1. Intense pain a few days after the extraction
2. Swelling in the area around the neck
3. Discomfort on the tongue or in the mouth
4. You can see the bone in the extraction hole
5. Fever
6. Bad breath
Reason
Some of these things are suspected to be the cause of dry sockets:
1. Socket contaminated with bacteria
2. Severe bone and tissue trauma at the surgical site due to difficult extractions
3. There is bone left in the wound after dental surgery
There are also risk factors that can increase the occurrence of dry sockets. Such as smoking, poor oral hygiene, wisdom tooth extraction, gargling too often, and taking birth control pills.
Diagnosis
The doctor will suspect a dry socket if a person experiences pain after tooth extraction. To diagnose, the doctor will also ask about other symptoms, as well as check the mouth to see if there are blood clots in the tooth socket or bones that look exposed.
You may be advised to have an X-ray examination, to rule out other possible diseases. For example, a bone infection.
Treatment
Dry socket treatment focuses on reducing symptoms, especially pain. Treatment therapy can be in the form of ointments to painkillers.
Usually, the symptoms will recover slowly after treatment. Immediately contact the doctor if the condition does not improve.