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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you've ever had dry socket after a tooth removal?

54 replies

manydaysahead · 27/01/2023 19:06

I had my top wisdom tooth removed yesterday. It was fine! Out within a few seconds it felt like, no issues. I was in and out within 5 minutes I think

The local anaesthetic wore off over a few hours and I was just a bit tender

This afternoon I feel like I want to rip my face off. The pain is so intense I'd rather push another baby out. What the hell is this?

I've googled dry socket but my dental surgeon said it's almost impossible I'd get that since it was a top wisdom tooth and came out really easily, intact in one piece

She said any problems though and to go back to my own dentist. What do I do? Can a GP not help? I really can't afford the cost of a dentist trip Sad they charge for a consultation and I don't have that

Is there any self help measures? What helped you?

Thanks so much

OP posts:
Pleasecreateausername13 · 27/01/2023 19:10

I’ve had it twice after getting my wisdom teeth removed and it was absolutely agony to the point I couldn’t sleep for days.

I went back to the dentist who flushed it out and packed it with I want to say iodine or something like that but the self help measure and I swore by it was constantly gargling antiseptic mouthwash like Corsodyl.

Bluebuddha10 · 27/01/2023 19:12

Yes this happened to me last year, although it was a bottom tooth that was removed. Removal was pretty straight forward, no probs. But developed dry socket after. Very painful. You should really go back to dentist to be checked. If it is dry socket, you will need antibiotics. Also recommend salt mouthwashes and apply diluted clove oil to help. But really you will need the antibiotics.
My dentist said dry socket is more common in middle age females.

hothands · 27/01/2023 19:13

Yes, although it wasn't from a wisdom tooth. I'd rather give birth than go through it again. You need to go back and have it cleaned out and packed.

Your dentist should have told you to be careful and given you a list of things you should/shouldn't do after a tooth removal as a clot forms where the hole is and if the clot goes, that's why you get dry socket (my dentist didn't do any of that, which is how I ended up with it).

HeechulOppa · 27/01/2023 19:14

I have had all my teeth removed and had dry socket in about half of them - most of these were top teeth. Being a smoker makes it more likely. My dentist said top teeth were more likely due to it being easier for a blood clot to drop out in a downwards direction!

You have my sympathy!! It’s one of the worse pains but it will get better, I absolutely promise. I find that reminding myself that made it more bearable and in the last few instances knowing after day 3/4 it gets drastically better does help.

Lollygaggle · 27/01/2023 19:15

See your dentist but more particularly NEVER , NEVER use clove oil diluted or not around a healing socket , on gums or anywhere in the mouth. It burns and I have seen it burn all the way through gum onto bone .

FizzyTango · 27/01/2023 19:15

I had it after a wisdom tooth removal by a hospital surgeon - a couple of days later I was in absolute agony. I was crying at the GP for pain relief and they refused to see me., likewise the surgical ward at the hospital were no help. In the end I had to pay for an emergency dental consult (£50) with my dentist and confirmed dry socket. He packed the wound and gave me a prescription for some very strong antibiotics which made me feel quite sick. Packing the wound gave the most relief and I had to make do with OTC co-codamol.

JonSnowedUnder · 27/01/2023 19:17

Yes, bottom wisdom tooth. Removed easily in one piece, total agony after though. Other side removed a few weeks later and the dentist really had to dig around for ages - recovery from that side was a piece of piss compared.

MavisFlump · 27/01/2023 19:19

Yes. Twice. Absolutely agonising.
I now have prophylactic antibiotics every time I need an extraction.

WorriedMillie · 27/01/2023 19:20

Every time 😭 It’s agony!

Original poster
manydaysahead · 27/01/2023 19:21

Thanks so much

Can I ask if anyone knows what antibiotic is needed? I know you're not suppose to but I have it there and could use it if I know it's what'll be prescribed or could be

I simply can't afford a consolation. I paid privately out of desperation to see a dentist, and the referral to the oral surgeon was NHS so I didn't pay. But oral surgeon says any problems you have to go back to your own dentist, even though she's based at a dental practice that does basic check ups too

OP posts:
WiddlinDiddlin · 27/01/2023 19:22

Yes absolute agony and then it started spitting out alarmingly large shards of bone too.

Go back to the dentist, they can pack it with something that numbs it up and that can be very effective -it is also about the ONLY thing that is effective. I would not swish or gargle it with anything though, you're likely to annoy it and slow healing.

Pleasecreateausername13 · 27/01/2023 19:24

OP I can’t be absolutely certain so maybe call your own dentist to check but I’m sure I didn’t pay when they flushed it out because it was a continuation from NHS treatment. But it was about 5 years ago so I forget but you’ll not get your dentist till Monday now so it may be better by then.

If it’s not better by tomorrow call NHS 24, they will probably refer you to back to maxifacial(sp) and they will hopefully give you antibiotics.

scochran · 27/01/2023 19:24

Bottom tooth extraction and dry socket was just awful. I went back twice to get it packed, there was no charge for that. I couldn't believe I was just to get by with paracetamol.

Wtfhusband23 · 27/01/2023 19:31

You don't need antibiotics if it's not infected. I've had it 3 times and never needed antibiotics. An ice pack will literally numb the area, but you can ask a gp for strong painkillers. You really need it packing, and maybe more than once. Clove oil was amazing. You're looking at this going on for 7-10 days ime. In that time, about 14 days, the socket would close over.

Nuevabegin · 27/01/2023 19:38

I had it op, did everything right post removal , don’t smoke , not on pill, was so
careful not to eat after etc . It was beyond grim, what I really noticed was a foul smell from my mouth . It was during covid and I had to beg to be seen. Dentist packed it with gauze and clove oil and I got antibiotics. I feel for you op, I hope get help asap if you have it .

D1ngledanglers · 27/01/2023 19:39

Yes I did. Swooshing & holding dispersible Solpadeine was a great relief. Horrid pain.... . Hope you feel better soon

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 27/01/2023 19:39

Yes I got dry socket in a bottom back tooth I had extracted. It shattered as they pulled it out and I was pulling bits of tooth out of my gums for weeks 🤢.
The dry socket pain was so intense - worst pain I've ever felt. Was like my head would explode.

I went back to dentist but it was out of hours on a Friday night and she said it was too disgusting and she didn't want to deal with it. On the Monday I had it packed with a clove dressing which did make a difference. I'm pretty sure it didn't cost me anything for any of the follow up treatment but did need a paid prescription for an antibiotic - I think it was metronidazole which is awful on the stomach. I had to have something else prescribed a couple of days later.

twoandcooplease · 27/01/2023 19:40

Yes two times (both recently after never having issues before!)
The wisdom tooth at the top cleared on its own. The bottom one was a nightmare and I genuinely believed I was growing a new tooth. The feeling took me back to my childhood when I'd had a wobbly tooth and you can feel the scratchy bits against the gum

Do you have corsodyl? I brushed my teeth then rinsed with warm salty water about 8 times a day and gargled with cordodyl. Took a lot of naproxen and got some cocodomal. As for sleep - I was a bit of a zombie from the pain so just fell asleep as and when I could for however long I'd take it.
It took weeks for mine to resolve! (But I am a smoker so....)

Bunlass · 27/01/2023 19:41

I was referred by my dentist, to have 2 wisdom teeth removed in hospital. The dentist was awful, left me with bruising on my face but I didn't bleed much. I developed dry socket and went back to my dentist for an emergency appointment and they packed the wounds. A couple of years later, I had another removed at another dentist and had no problems.

fizzyfood · 27/01/2023 19:42

Had it once, awful pain, went back to dentist and had it packed. Hope you get it sorted. If you call 111 they should be able to refer to emergency NHS dentist

twoandcooplease · 27/01/2023 19:44

@Lollygaggle I used it in unbelievable pain once and it made it worse! I am not surprised it can burn flesh

icefishing · 27/01/2023 19:44

DH had it.
He had to have it packed several times before it went away.

SirGawain · 27/01/2023 19:45

Yes, this has happened to me. The dentist packed the cavity with a dressing an prescribed antibiotics.

mamacattiva · 27/01/2023 19:48

Ask your dentist if they can spare two minutes tomorrow morning to put some Alveogyl in the socket, you shouldn’t need an appointment.

Kangarude · 27/01/2023 19:49

I had this last year. Went back to the dentist who prescribed antibiotics. I can't recall which ones I'm afraid, but I didn't have to pay again