Tooth extraction/dry socket

[cornflkgrl]

Anyone ever had dry socket? How long should this last?

I had an abscessed tooth (a crown from an apparently failed root canal -- and, geez, would I like a refund now!) removed last Friday. Also had two fillings on an adjacent tooth.

By Wednesday things were not going well. Felt like my jaw and ear were going to explode. Packed up the kiddos and went back to the dentist. That was super fun!! And they said I had dry socket and numbed everything all up and poked around in my mouth some more and ground something down and packed the socket with something with clove oil and put a stitch in and gave me some vicodin for nighttime and said to "come back if you need to or if it gets swollen or anything." And also that "the stitch will dissolve."

Well, I woke up today (Sunday) and it looks all kinds of infected now and the packing is still in. And the stitch has disappeared into my gums.

I'm wondering if anyone else has experience with this. We have a trip coming up in a little over two weeks and I'm off solids here (since 9 days ago) and don't want to be worrying about this on my trip.

 

[gwynne]

No experience, but I think you should call the dentist first thing tomorrow. I hope this heals up soon for you.

 

[aprilchem]

I do have experience with this, but my situation was not typical, I think. You might want to ask what, exactly, they packed into the socket. In my case what they used was activated charcoal impregnated with clove oil and tetracycline. The dr didn't inform me that he'd used tetracyline, and I'd never had it before but am extremely allergic to it. I ended up with months and months of pain and almost had to quit graduate school because of it. If you think that you might possibly be sensitive to or allergic to any antibiotic I'd call and double-check.

 

[fly girl]

First, ouch! That sounds all kinds of awful.

Second, I personally haven't had that issue but my nephew did with wisdom teeth removal. They gave him antibiotics (pill form) and he felt better in about a week.

I'd definitely call tomorrow. Sorry. Feel better and keep us posted.

 

[cornflkgrl]

I do have experience with this, but my situation was not typical, I think. You might want to ask what, exactly, they packed into the socket. In my case what they used was activated charcoal impregnated with clove oil and tetracycline. The dr didn't inform me that he'd used tetracyline, and I'd never had it before but am extremely allergic to it. I ended up with months and months of pain and almost had to quit graduate school because of it. If you think that you might possibly be sensitive to or allergic to any antibiotic I'd call and double-check.

Wow. That sounds awful! I didn't even know they could put antibiotic in there.

I think she told me what she was putting in there but it hurt so bad I zoned out. Plus my kid was in the room and I kept thinking how I'm going to pay for this when I try to take him back to his dentist ...since I'm making this look like a torture chamber.

 

[King Schultz]

Anyone ever had dry socket? How long should this last?

I had an abscessed tooth (a crown from an apparently failed root canal -- and, geez, would I like a refund now!) removed last Friday. Also had two fillings on an adjacent tooth.

By Wednesday things were not going well. Felt like my jaw and ear were going to explode. Packed up the kiddos and went back to the dentist. That was super fun!! And they said I had dry socket and numbed everything all up and poked around in my mouth some more and ground something down and packed the socket with something with clove oil and put a stitch in and gave me some vicodin for nighttime and said to "come back if you need to or if it gets swollen or anything." And also that "the stitch will dissolve."

Well, I woke up today (Sunday) and it looks all kinds of infected now and the packing is still in. And the stitch has disappeared into my gums.

I'm wondering if anyone else has experience with this. We have a trip coming up in a little over two weeks and I'm off solids here (since 9 days ago) and don't want to be worrying about this on my trip.

Nope. I've had a couple abscessed teeth pulled and was given dire warnings about 'dry socket' and not to drink or smoke, but I put a wad of cotton over it and did my thing and never had a problem.

Having said that, my SIL had it happen and she was in agony, so I feel for you.

Do you have anything like Keflex or a broad spectrum antibiotic around? I'd take a couple tonight if you do and hit a doctor ASAP tomorrow. Hit an Urgent Care place if you have to.


9 days is a lot without solid foods. . . but if you get this resolved in a couple days you should have plenty of time to get better for your trip.


Wish I could be more help. ((((hugs)))) I hope it gets better soon and you're okay.

 

[verleniahall]

were you doing the salt water rinse? that is suppoed to help prevent dry socket

 

[cornflkgrl]

No experience, but I think you should call the dentist first thing tomorrow. I hope this heals up soon for you.

Thanks. I plan to call the dentist. I was just trying to see if anyone had it happen so I could gauge how long it might last.

 

[Klayfish]

Just hurts reading about it. Yes, I've had dry socket before. It's not fun. I guess it depends on how infected it is and how you respond to it. It's been a while, but if I recall, I had to be on oral antibiotics. The pain lasted maybe 3 or 4 days and then it felt fine. Just a weird feeling after that.

Hope you're better soon. It's always my biggest fear as we lead up to a Disney trip. Someone will get sick and/or injured.

 

[mjkacmom]

I had to have it packed daily for close to two weeks, lost 10 pounds.

 

[loves to dive]

Ouch, I had one pulled a week ago and thank you heaven didn't have any issues. I had a cracked tooth (cracked all the way across horizontally) and the dentist said he could do a root canal and cap it but since it was the second to last back tooth he thought pulling it would be easier and less expensive. Since I had lived with it for 6 months it was good and infected so I was on antibiotics for a week before he pulled it. That didn't get all the infection so he gave me another week of antibiotic after he pulled and gave me all the warnings, which I followed religiously and thankfully the only problems I've had is learning how to eat again on that side. Good luck and hope he can give you something to heal it up.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

Drink a lot of water!!! Swish with salt water but be gentle about it. "Suction" in your mouth is bad that is why they tell you not to use straws etc so gently swish and use ice packs on and off. They didn't give you an antibiotic? I had dry socket after my wisdom teeth were taken out

 

[cornflkgrl]

Drink a lot of water!!! Swish with salt water but be gentle about it. "Suction" in your mouth is bad that is why they tell you not to use straws etc so gently swish and use ice packs on and off. They didn't give you an antibiotic? I had dry socket after my wisdom teeth were taken out

I did salt water rinses the week after I got it out. It seemed like it was doing okay. Dry socket happened in day 5.
I did not get antibiotic before or after. My initial appointment was an emergency visit for pain from a broken filling/tooth that I thought was the offender....turned out the tooth that got extracted was my "fancy expensive" tooth. I am concerned that I have had no antibiotics. She said that after the tooth was out the abscess should drain and it would be okay unless I get a fever.

I've got a dental appointment for 2:30 today. Maybe they will give me some antibiotics.

 

[Bilberry]

Another idea that might be helpful is ozone therapy. It is reportedly effective at eliminating dental infections. It also doesn't have the side effects seen with antibiotics, in particular an upset stomach.

There is a good amount of information on dental ozone treatments. The first Google search I saw can be read here:

http://www.dentaleconomics.com/arti...l-ozone-the-revolution-is-happening-here.html

 

[King Schultz]

I did salt water rinses the week after I got it out. It seemed like it was doing okay. Dry socket happened in day 5.
I did not get antibiotic before or after. My initial appointment was an emergency visit for pain from a broken filling/tooth that I thought was the offender....turned out the tooth that got extracted was my "fancy expensive" tooth. I am concerned that I have had no antibiotics. She said that after the tooth was out the abscess should drain and it would be okay unless I get a fever.

I've got a dental appointment for 2:30 today. Maybe they will give me some antibiotics.

Glad to hear they got you in today.

Let us know how it goes. . .

 

[cornflkgrl]

Glad to hear they got you in today.

Let us know how it goes. . .

Penicillin and some kind of rinse. Plus they numbed it all up again and put more clove oil packing. And they were kind of scary with their whole: "if your neck swells go to the ER" speech. On one hand they were like: 'eh, it will be fine...it's fine. We caught it. You will take this Penicillin every 6 hours. Set your alarm and wake yourself up at night and make sure you don't miss any.'

But on the other hand they were like: 'BUT....if it swells more, call us! And if your neck swells AT ALL go to the ER because you could, like, not be able to breath....but again, we aren't worried about that. It will be fine.'

 

[fly girl]

Praying for the first scenario!

Positive thoughts sent your way. Hope you start feeling much better soon.

 

[King Schultz]

Penicillin and some kind of rinse. Plus they numbed it all up again and put more clove oil packing. And they were kind of scary with their whole: "if your neck swells go to the ER" speech. On one hand they were like: 'eh, it will be fine...it's fine. We caught it. You will take this Penicillin every 6 hours. Set your alarm and wake yourself up at night and make sure you don't miss any.'

But on the other hand they were like: 'BUT....if it swells more, call us! And if your neck swells AT ALL go to the ER because you could, like, not be able to breath....but again, we aren't worried about that. It will be fine.'

Wow! Way to install confidence in a patient!


I'm guessing they're concerned you might have a reaction to the penicillin?? Odd they'd give it to you if they were since there so many other type of antibiotics.


Well, at least they numbed you up. . .hopefully this will begin to solve the issue and you feel better for your trip.

 

[Pamlur]

When you do the salt-water rinse, you are supposed to be very, very gentle with it. When they take the tooth out, a blood clot forms in the "socket" and you want that to stay in place because it protects the nerve. If you wash the blood clot out, the nerve is exposed and that causes the pain.

 

[MamaLema]

I've had 3 kids with no pain meds and have a really high pain tolerance...but dry socket has to be up there with one of my most painful and miserable experiences. My dentist said almost everyone who get one, gets in on the bottom. I got mine on the top and no matter how many times I had to get it packed at the dentist, it kept sliding out because of gravity.

I had horrible miserable pain for about 2 weeks. No amount of pain meds could help as it has to to with the nerves.

I really feel for you OP, it is a terrible experience.