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Is this dry socket?

39 replies

Brandyp2000 · 07/03/2025 20:23

Hello! I got my molar extracted on Tuesday and I already screwed up and the stitches came out last night and some this morning during a salt water rinse and today out of all days is the most painful. The past two days have been a breeze but today it’s a bit bad. Just a very uncomfortable pain and I called my dentist and she said they couldn’t get me in till Monday so my anxiety is so bad and if it is dry socket please give me tips! Also that is my wisdom tooth in the back coming in sideways just fyi thank you!!

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Is this dry socket?
Sensitive content
Is this dry socket?
OP posts:
gamerchick · 07/03/2025 20:30

Stitches?

I can't tell,.is the blood clot still there? It shouldn't be uncomfortable now though.

I've never had stitches with an extraction though.

Brandyp2000 · 07/03/2025 20:33

That is what the dentist said it was because there were strings coming out of the hole and it honestly felt better after they came out but I can’t tell if it there’s a clot either I’ll try to get a better picture

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Brandyp2000 · 07/03/2025 20:39

This is the best it’s gonna get lol

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Is this dry socket?
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LillyPJ · 07/03/2025 20:41

I had a dry socket after an extraction once. I wouldn't have known if the dentist hadn't told me at a follow-up appointment. I didn't have any pain but had to have a course of antibiotics.

MissRabbitHasBurnOut · 07/03/2025 20:46

I had dry socket, no idea what it looked like but it was the worst pain I could imagine. Fingers crossed it doesn't get any worse for you.

Brandyp2000 · 07/03/2025 20:47

Thank you! Right now I’m okay and can deal I’m sorry you had it!

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Redfred00 · 07/03/2025 20:53

My H had dry socket a few weeks ago. He was in terrible pain and he said it felt like it was burning. He couldn't eat on that side. TBH, it looks like his did but his was red and angry. Keep an eye on it. Keep doing the salt water rinses. If it gets worse and you cant manage call 111 and they will get you an emergency dentist appointment.

vipersnest1 · 07/03/2025 21:06

It doesn't look like there's a clot there and I'm no expert, but I'm wondering if you might have an infection?

Brandyp2000 · 07/03/2025 21:55

Thank you for your response!

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Brandyp2000 · 07/03/2025 21:56

Yea it’s hard to tell I keep seeing pictures of clots and I don’t see the same thing in my extraction site

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sourgrapes45 · 07/03/2025 21:59

I had stitches with an extraction and was told you're a lot less likely to get dry socket if it's been stitched. The grey stuff looks like granulation tissue with is very normal in healing, it's new tissue forming basically.

I haven't had dry socket but I've heard it's excruciatingly painful so if you had it I'm pretty sure you'd know!

I did salt water rinses (very gently) for about a week and had no issues. Good luck!

RhubarbandCustardYummyYummy · 07/03/2025 22:00

That’s a dry socket - keep up hot salt water mouth washes to try to keep it clean and if you can take regular pain killers!

Brandyp2000 · 07/03/2025 22:02

is it okay to go till Monday without a dentist looking at it?

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unicornpower · 07/03/2025 22:04

I had a dry socket and it wasn’t excruciating, but my jaw was swollen and hot and it was just pain up to my ear (completely manageable with ibuprofen) but i was put on antibiotics which helped immediately, it won’t get better on its own, just do rinses and see the dentist on Monday, hopefully ot doesn’t get worse

xyz111 · 07/03/2025 22:06

LillyPJ · 07/03/2025 20:41

I had a dry socket after an extraction once. I wouldn't have known if the dentist hadn't told me at a follow-up appointment. I didn't have any pain but had to have a course of antibiotics.

It's weird how it's different for people. I had dry socket and it was the most excruciating pain ever. Give me child birth over that!! And then I got it again 2 weeks later when I had the other wisdom tooth out!

JemimaFlubberCluck · 07/03/2025 22:13

RhubarbandCustardYummyYummy · 07/03/2025 22:00

That’s a dry socket - keep up hot salt water mouth washes to try to keep it clean and if you can take regular pain killers!

Yep 👆 this

JemimaFlubberCluck · 07/03/2025 22:16

Brandyp2000 · 07/03/2025 22:02

is it okay to go till Monday without a dentist looking at it?

Yes, they’ll probably dress it with something that might ease it a bit but it just needs time to clear up on its own. Can take up to 10 days. You could try 111 and see if you can get an emergency appointment, but it won’t make it heal any faster. Salt water and painkillers.

MrsFezziwig · 07/03/2025 22:44

Brandyp2000 · 07/03/2025 21:56

Yea it’s hard to tell I keep seeing pictures of clots and I don’t see the same thing in my extraction site

I had my wisdom tooth out about 10 days ago and I never saw a clot, only the appearance in your photo (although I can't see the area well as it's so far back). I'm obviously ahead of you and the granulation tissue has gone now, I just seem to have a tiny gap in the gum with a whitish area ? bone ? tissue. The only pain I have had has been generalised over my whole lower jaw which I took to be due to the brute force used in removing the tooth and that has eased now, so I'm hoping all is proceeding as it should.

Brandyp2000 · 07/03/2025 22:49

i hope everything goes smoothly for you! This is so stressful

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NameChanges123 · 07/03/2025 22:51

I've had a dry socket and it was the worst pain I've ever had (worse than all my labours, bar one)!

sageGreen81 · 07/03/2025 22:54

I had dry socket and the pain was debilitating - bearing in mind I've had two labours and sections in the end, my gall bladder out, I've also broken my foot it's massively swollen and I've walked around on it - I've been told I have an unusually high pain tolerance. But dry socket well that knocked me for six

Sal17690 · 08/03/2025 12:13

I had dry socket recently after wisdom tooth extraction. My dentist packed it with something that helped with the pain and projected the area so it could clot again. Keep up painkillers and keep doing gentle salt water rinses.

RobinHumphries · 08/03/2025 13:50

I really wish people who don’t know what they’re talking about wouldn’t post on these threads. That’s not a dry socket. A dry socket is where there is nothing in the socket so you can see the bone. In your case you can clearly see an epithelialised clot.

GG1986 · 08/03/2025 14:21

RobinHumphries · 08/03/2025 13:50

I really wish people who don’t know what they’re talking about wouldn’t post on these threads. That’s not a dry socket. A dry socket is where there is nothing in the socket so you can see the bone. In your case you can clearly see an epithelialised clot.

Are you a dentist?

RobinHumphries · 08/03/2025 14:32

GG1986 · 08/03/2025 14:21

Are you a dentist?

only for the last 20 years….