Dry Socket

[Shell6987]

I had a lower back tooth extracted last week, over last weekend there was a fair amount of pain then a really bad smell and taste. I went back to the dentist he diagnosed dry socket and packed it and prescribed antibiotics. The dentist told me I didn’t need to do anything with the packing and would see me at the next check up.

Question I have is the packing is still in the extraction site now 6 days later, does this matter or should it have come out by now. I’ve been doing the salt water rinse and can see the gum is started to close up, but am concerned about the hole closing up with the packing still in the hole.

I’ve looked at other threads and the net and it seems usually it comes out at 3-5 days. Just wondered what OP experiences were on this.

Also on a side note the area where the tooth was taken out I’m not sure if it is the tooth next to it throbs when walking, I have some tightness in my face like sinus pain which started yesterday, so may be this but would have thought the ABx would have prevented this, any thoughts 🙂🙂

I can't remember the specifics I'm afraid to your question. But I just want to send you a big pile of sympathy because it was bloody horrible. Hope it gets better soon.

No answers I’m afraid, but just posting to see what others say as I’m in a similar situation!

Dry socket diagnosed Thursday morning. Dentist packed the socket and told me it would come out on its own, likely the same night or the next day he said. Some of it did come out today (Saturday eve) on its own today but there’s still quite a substantial amount of gauze inside. I don’t know whether I should be leaving it in, but I do know the pain has been a lot worse since some came out I’m worried I could do with it repacking but we’re away for the weekend and I don’t know how I’d even get hold of anyone to do it. I’m so ready for the pain to be gone . I had the tooth pulled last Friday and the dry socket symptoms started on Monday, so I’m hopeful I should be feeling better by early next week. I also have a lot of pain in the tooth next to the extracted one. I think it’s to do with shifting/ change in bite/gums being inflamed.

Can I ask if your pain is gone yet? And when symptoms started?

Hi Enwi, last weekend the I was taking ibuprofen and paramol to cope with pain, I wasn’t sure if it was a dry socket or just the post extraction pain, my jaw really ached. On Monday when I saw the dentist the pain wasnt as bad, after the packing apart from loads of clove oil going down my throat, felt much better. Then after Monday I was just on ibuprofen 3 times a day although the pain did fluctuate. yesterday I only needed one dose of ibuprofen and today haven’t needed any painkillers. I finished the course of ABx yesterday.

Tonight under my jaw under where the tooth was extracted, it feels sore again but not so much I need painkillers. I’m hoping the socket is healing at the bottom then upwards but guessing it will take a while, perhaps it will push the packing out.

Read it can take 2 - 3 weeks to be pain free!!! Keep thinking I should go back to dentist next week just to check it over, but don’t know

Oh wow that sounds very positive then that you’re needing so little in the way of painkillers now.

I think if I was in your shoes I’d be tempted to wait until Monday when the dentist is open and then try removing it yourself. If it doesn’t come easily, I’d ring the dentist back. The idea of the gauze is for pain management above all else I think, so if you aren’t needing it I’d imagine it’s better out than in.

Still traumatised by the pain I had with dry socket, it’s agony. I would go back next week to check.

if you are still in pain get checked again.
DH had this and was in absolute agony for well over a week so was prescribed different painkillers after about 5 days.
the dentist himself had a dry socket once so very much sympathised

Yeah I was thinking about whether to help it out, then got worried if it did the pain would restart again, then I’d be stuck, so in a conundrum. I think I will wait till Monday then call the dentists to ask.

I’ve tried steaming to help the throbbing cant hurt I thought.