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Original poster

Is this normal after tooth extraction? Gross photo included

30 replies

BakedBeanUK · 12/04/2021 20:49

Hi all. I had an upper molar extracted this morning and it’s wasn't a straight forward one - it was already broken and snapped further so she had to drill a lot of it out. I didn’t bother to look at it when I got home but after dinner I was worried I absent-mindedly swished my water too hard through my mouth and swallowed the clot. I had a look and the hole is massive and deep. I assumed it would have a clot covering it so now I’m quite worried about dry socket and it getting painful. Can anyone tell me if this looks normal please?

OP posts:

Holothane · 12/04/2021 21:07

I hope you don’t get dry bone the pain is horrific. I can’t think what would help now if you’ve swallowed the clot others might know, hugs. Have you strong painkillers in just in case.

CoffeePhoenix · 12/04/2021 21:11

Go back to dentist tomorrow. They will pack the hole with a clove flavoured dressing. I had an infected dry socket which wasn't fun. Worse was when the shards of jaw bone started working their way out.

Original poster

BakedBeanUK · 12/04/2021 21:19

Do you think that’s what it looks like then? I’ll ring them first thing. I’m pretty scared now, I keep reading about how awful it is. I have some naproxen which I’ve taken this evening as I feel fairly battered from the whole process anyway.

OP posts:

stressbandit · 12/04/2021 21:23

It doesn't look like it to me when I had dry socket it was awful the pain was nothing I've ever experienced and it looked white inside yours looks quite red and bloody still. The pain radiates all up your face along your nose your forehead and just throbs it doesn't go and painkillers do not touch the pain. Ring them tomorrow and just get them to look just incase.

year5teacher · 12/04/2021 21:23

Oh man definitely phone the dentist first thing as you’re at risk of developing dry socket!

QueenPaw · 12/04/2021 21:24

Give them a ring. I had dry socket and it wasn't actually bad, it mostly tasted grim and that's how I knew I had it. Dentist did look confused when I said it wasn't really sore
I also had a few bits of bone work their way out but I just got them with tweezers and not painful at all quite fun to do

AnnaSW1 · 12/04/2021 21:28

Mine looked like that and it was fine.

stuckinarutatwork · 12/04/2021 21:30

I'd call the dentist in the morning. You're not meant to dislodge the clot. They will tell you it's either ok or pack the hole with a dressing if needed.

idontlikealdi · 12/04/2021 21:30

It looks ok, at the moment. I'd call them back tomorrow it might need to be Oakes. Dh had dry socket and I've never seen someone look so unwell.

Original poster

BakedBeanUK · 12/04/2021 21:33

Thanks, quite a mixed bag of opinions lol. Except that I should ring, which I will. This has really triggered anxiety in me.

OP posts:

QueenPaw · 12/04/2021 21:36

@BakedBeanUK honestly try not to be anxious. I did everything wrong after my extraction as I was still smoking and it was only a few days later when I was "ew my mouth tastes funny" that made me go for a check up
They put the clove stuff in and it helped instantly and that was that! It's healed so well

Gaaaahhhhhhhh · 12/04/2021 21:36

Ring the dentist, as previously said. I’ve recently had dry socket and it wasn’t agony, it tasted horrible and there was a nasty smell.
He packed it and I had a few days of antibiotics and all good. Once the clot is gone it needs looking at.
Hope it gets better quickly- I was terrified of dry socket and it wasn’t that awful, luckily, so try not to worry tonight.

Original poster

BakedBeanUK · 12/04/2021 21:37

Thanks @QueenPaw it’s just hard because there’s some absolute horror stories out there!!

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Boredandsingle · 12/04/2021 21:41

Get it seen as soon as you can - I made the mistake of leaving it almost a week,thinking oh this is normal and the pain was like nothing else I’ve experienced! One clove packing and a course of anti bs and the relief was instant. Get yourself seen before you get to that!

Original poster

BakedBeanUK · 12/04/2021 21:44

@Boredandsingle did it hurt straight away when the clot came out or did it take time before it started to hurt?

OP posts:

bairnk · 12/04/2021 21:49

I'm a dentist- it looks pretty normal, I'd only call tomorrow if it is extremely sore ( not relieved by painkillers) or you feel very swollen or have any systemic symptoms. It looks as though it still has the blood clotting at the base of the socket which is where the healing starts so that's good but if you do develop a dry socket as others have said it's a pretty easy fix for the dentist with rinsing and packing it plus occasionally antibiotics. The pain from a dry socket is usually easy to tell as normally doesn't start to worsen until around 48 hours after the extraction. Start rinsing with warm salty water a few times a day from tomorrow onwards and it should hopefully be fine

Boredandsingle · 12/04/2021 21:51

@BakedBeanUK 2/3 days- more that the ache in the jaw felt like it was getting worse rather than better.

HermionePotter123 · 12/04/2021 21:52

Hopefully a dentist will come along soon and be able to give a more definitive answer but from what I can see, the clot still looks to be there. Dry socket is quite uncommon in upper teeth, it's usually lower molars (particularly lower wisdom teeth) that tend to get it. Even if you have dislodged the clot dry socket isn't guaranteed anyway. If you are very worried I would ring in the morning for advice though. I completely get your anxiety, I'm a huge worrier too (have severe health anxiety), but it is really easily treated if it is dry socket.

Original poster

BakedBeanUK · 12/04/2021 22:03

@bairnk thanks so much, I was hoping a proper dentist might happen to be on the board tonight! I’ve come such a long way with health anxiety over the years but anything dental and especially the potential for agony makes me panic. I’m so shocked at how deep it looks, I assumed there would be a clot more or less up to the surface?! I’ll see how it is in the morning. Thanks again for taking the time to advise.

OP posts:

HermionePotter123 · 13/04/2021 20:46

Hey @BakedBeanUK, how are you feeling now?

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 13/04/2021 20:51

You should not have disrupted that clot, go back to the dentist before you get dry socket and get it packed. I had dry socket when I smoked it's much more common in smokers, I haven't smoked for years now. It really is the worst pain you can ever have.

Original poster

BakedBeanUK · 13/04/2021 21:37

@HermionePotter123 thanks for asking :-) this morning it looked much more like there was a clot there and less like a gaping hole so as per the advice of the dentist who commented above, I got on with my day. I’ve not been in any pain. I keep checking on it regularly and as the day has gone on it’s looked more and more reassuring so I feel happier now that it should be ok.

OP posts:

HermionePotter123 · 13/04/2021 21:42

Ah that's great hopefully it will heal up quickly. I worried so much after my last extraction, was checking it constantly and taking photos all the time to look for changes, so I completely understand how you were feeling.

Holothane · 13/04/2021 23:22

Glad your feeling better and healing .

GoneCrazy · 13/04/2021 23:25

To the PP who is a dentist I don’t think she should swirl with water! What if she dislodged the clot?

DS pain is horrendous

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