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Original poster

Wisdom tooth removal - dry socket dressing

69 replies

holidayseeker · 10/04/2015 16:30

I had my wisdom tooth extracted on Tuesday and today went back to the dentist as I had some bone sticking out of my gum.

Whilst there the dentist advised the gym was healing well but that he would add a packing to aid healing. From looking on here it seems the packing is one that is used for dey socket but he did not mention anything about this to me he just advised it would heal it quicker.

Is this right? Do people normally have the packing. If they don't have an infection or dry socket?

OP posts:
Original poster
holidayseeker · 10/04/2015 16:30

Oops gum not gym

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MummyBtothree · 10/04/2015 17:11

Yes thats quite ordinary practice. The little piece of bone will surface and work their way out. It will be to stop any infection occurring.

Original poster
holidayseeker · 10/04/2015 17:16

Great thanks for the reply, I was beginning to wonder if I had dry socket and he hadn't told me.

Also I have just eaten for the first time and the packing seems loose like it may drop off. If it falls out will the previous clot that was there still be in the hole after he has washed it out?

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Original poster
holidayseeker · 10/04/2015 17:31

Another question, if it does not drop out what happens to the gauze. I have not been given another appointment to see the dentist?

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marymouse · 10/04/2015 17:32

From memory I think it disintegrates. was it green?

Original poster
holidayseeker · 10/04/2015 17:40

No it's brown and I haven't helped myself as I keep googling and have found it says your dentist should change the packing etc but I have not been told anything.

I am guessing it must dissolve as you say otherwise dentist would have advised something.

Thank you I know I am fretting but thought things were getting better only to get this horrible tasting gauze (yuck)

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MummyBtothree · 10/04/2015 19:37

The brown stuff is a natural remedy they sometimes pack into the sockets. Its naturally antiseptic and will gradually come out and you will swallow it. What gauze have you got in your mouth at the moment? (am ex dental nurse by the way, lol)

Original poster
holidayseeker · 10/04/2015 19:59

I'm not sure looking at it it looks like brown cotton/gauze that is there.

Thanks a lot for the advice

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Original poster
holidayseeker · 12/04/2015 15:23

The brown gauze is now half hanging off and stinging, any ideas what I should do?

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MummyBtothree · 12/04/2015 15:43

Annoyingly different dentists use different methods and wirk slightly differently so im trying to work out this gauze in your mouth as I dont quite understand that. Is it definately gauze, I.e what nurses use to dress a wound?

Original poster
holidayseeker · 12/04/2015 15:55

Yes it's like a bandage that's like netting if that makes any sense.

When eating I felt it love out of place and now it is stinging around the gum where it has moved

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MummyBtothree · 12/04/2015 16:23

I really dont know why thats there as it sounds like its dislodging a clot in the socket and you dont want that, the clot should stay intact wherever poss. After extraction did he tell you to bite down on the gauze?

Original poster
holidayseeker · 12/04/2015 16:46

Yes at first I had a wad of padding to bite on then when I went back he stuck this brown gauze things on top

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Original poster
holidayseeker · 12/04/2015 16:52

Also when I went into the dentists on Friday there was a clot there that he said looked like it was healing well.

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Original poster
holidayseeker · 12/04/2015 16:57

The brown stuff has fell off and now in the middle of the hole it is still dark but the edge is just gum my clot is not there

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MummyBtothree · 12/04/2015 17:58

Any brown stuff could be old blood or some antiseptic substance. Have you got rid of the gauze now? if not, I would, just be careful you dont disturb the socket too much. Its not a problem if the clot has gone, resist the urge to swill that area out though too much. Have you any pain?

Original poster
holidayseeker · 12/04/2015 20:37

There is still a clot down the hole but deeper in it then it was before like it's been sucked in but above the clot is just gum, if that makes sense

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DoItTooJulia · 12/04/2015 20:43

Oh you have my sympathy. DH had his tooth removed over christmas and got dry socket. And the fragments of bone surfacing. He found it really uncomfortable.

He went back to the entity at least 4 times, so my advice is don't be afraid to go back and get it all checked out.

MummyBtothree · 12/04/2015 20:43

It sounds absolutely fine & as it should be Grin

Original poster
holidayseeker · 12/04/2015 20:53

Thank you Julia I am scared to go back as nervous as to what they will do next. When I talk I think I feel the bone fragment touching my tongue or it could be swelling.

MummyB thanks so much for all your help, there is definitely a clot there just I expected that to heal over without sucking into the hole. It's stinging slightly but I have been at work for a couple of hours talking to customers so that may be why.

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MummyBtothree · 12/04/2015 22:00

You're welcome, glad I could help out a little. Do you think it is a fragment of bone sticking out to that extent? if it is protruding like that you ought to go back tomorrow for him to look at cos it shouldn't really be that noticeable. Usually any tiny slivers of bone just get pushed ip to the surface as it heals but if you have bone waggling about it will aggrevate the healing.

Original poster
holidayseeker · 12/04/2015 23:01

The dentist said it was a bone splinter. It has made that side oft gum swell around where it is coming through. To look at it, it just looks like a tiny cream think just sticking out of the gum.

I do want it removed as every time I swallow I feel it but I sm scared. The dentist said he would have to numb the area and shave the bone off Sad

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MummyBtothree · 12/04/2015 23:42

Why didnt he remove it there and then??!. Ive never known them shaving it off, that means leaving some in your gum instead of teasing it out gently which is the regular practice. I would go back and ask him to actually remove it all with tweezers. It wouldnt take much to do that, shaving it down seems a bit arse about face and un-necessary. Bless you.

Original poster
holidayseeker · 13/04/2015 07:31

I am not sure if he tried to pull it out on Friday as it felt like he pushed it.

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Psipsina · 13/04/2015 07:42

If you aren't in pain then I would just take out the little bit of gauze (sounds like Alvogyl?) which isn't cotton, it's made of seaweed. It will fall out anyway, the reason it stings is that it has clove oil on it and that can burn the gum slightly. So it's causing you more hassle than it's worth.

If you had dry socket you would be in considerable pain. The bone fragments are a separate issue and will work their way out (called 'sequestra'). They are normal and won't cause a lot of discomfort but if they get very sore then the dentist can remove them. Just relax, it all sounds fine.

BTW the gauze doesn't prevent infection, it's just a pain control method.