Wisdom Teeth Extraction - Dry Socket Question

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I had three wisdom teeth pulled on Wednesday, two on the bottom and one on the top. So far, so good, but I noticed something odd a few minutes ago.

Let me back up a minute - the dentist told me that if I was going to experience a dry socket, that it would happen between three - five days after the extraction. I'm on day three.

Anyway...

I looked in the mirror and my lower right hole looks like it's starting to cave in a little bit on one side. He did stitch both of the lower holes closed and I've followed all of the instructions on the after-care sheet. I'm also not on birth control pills. But still...

I'm in no pain, so I don't want to needlessly worry, but that's easier said than done. I'm not sure if this is normal healing? I do still see blood clots on the top of all three holes, but there is less of one on this particular tooth. I've had some sneezing attacks for the past two days, and am now wondering if I dislodged a portion of the clot? Would I know?

Of course, it's the weekend and my husband is dove hunting, so if something bad is going to happen to me, it's going to happen on the weekend, when I'm alone. That's just the way my life goes.

If you experienced a dry socket, how soon after the extraction did it happen?

 

[rascalmom]

Your dentist is right - it usually happens at 3 to 5 days. IF it happens - you will know.

Keep following your after-care instructions. Try not to drink from a straw & don't smoke.

Good luck!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Your dentist is right - it usually happens at 3 to 5 days. IF it happens - you will know.

Keep following your after-care instructions. Try not to drink from a straw & don't smoke.

Good luck!

I'm not a smoker and don't use straws often (and won't for awhile). I just read something interesting. Women are more susceptible than men for developing dry sockets due to estrogen.

It said getting extractions done later in the monthly cycle helps prevent them. For once I managed to get something right without even trying!

I wouldn't be worrying at all if that one area didn't look different today.

 

[CathrynRose]

DRy sockets HURT. You'd know.

They do kinda 'cave in' as they heal. Youll be okay.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

DRy sockets HURT. You'd know.

They do kinda 'cave in' as they heal. Youll be okay.

Woohoo! That's what I wanted to hear!

I figure if I can get past tomorrow, I'm pretty much home free.

 

[claudia]

I'm not a smoker and don't use straws often (and won't for awhile). I just read something interesting. Women are more susceptible than men for developing dry sockets due to estrogen.

It said getting extractions done later in the monthly cycle helps prevent them. For once I managed to get something right without even trying!

I wouldn't be worrying at all if that one area didn't look different today.

As long as there is a clot over the socket you should be fine, even if it looks different in size to the others. It is very normal for the sides to be caved in....once the tooth is gone the tissue will fill in the space. As the clot dissolves the tissue will completely cover the hole and will heal.
Do you chew your food on the right side? If so, try to switch and chew on the other side for a bit.

 

[doxdogy]

I had a tooth pulled on Thursday and it is starting to cave in a little. Like others said, you will know if you have dry socket. I have never experienced it myself. But others have told me that it is a horrendous pain.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

As long as there is a clot over the socket you should be fine, even if it looks different in size to the others. It is very normal for the sides to be caved in....once the tooth is gone the tissue will fill in the space. As the clot dissolves the tissue will completely cover the hole and will heal.
Do you chew your food on the right side? If so, try to switch and chew on the other side for a bit.

I've been eating nothing but soft foods, so I really haven't been chewing at all. I sure miss it!

I could go for a big juicy steak about right now!

I wonder how long it'll be before I can chew over there? We go to Mexico in six weeks, and I sure want to be able to eat like a normal person.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I had a tooth pulled on Thursday and it is starting to cave in a little. Like others said, you will know if you have dry socket. I have never experienced it myself. But others have told me that it is a horrendous pain.

That's what I've heard.

 

[CathrynRose]

I've been eating nothing but soft foods, so I really haven't been chewing at all. I sure miss it!

I could go for a big juicy steak about right now!

I wonder how long it'll be before I can chew over there? We go to Mexico in six weeks, and I sure want to be able to eat like a normal person.

6 weeks - youll be TOTALLY fine by then. I was eating popcorn by the end of week 2....much to the horror of my girlfriend. But I felt fine!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

6 weeks - youll be TOTALLY fine by then. I was eating popcorn by the end of week 2....much to the horror of my girlfriend. But I felt fine!

It's been a really long time since I had my first one pulled and I can't remember how long it took. If I'm eating normally in two weeks, I'll be happy!

 

[doxdogy]

You should be good to go in six weeks. I had another tooth pulled a couple of weeks ago. I was eating normally after a few days. This one will take a little longer to heal. He had to put a stitch in the extraction site. I was actually able to eat some baked beans for dinner tonight. I just couldn't stand another night of oatmeal or yogurt.

I've been eating nothing but soft foods, so I really haven't been chewing at all. I sure miss it!

I could go for a big juicy steak about right now!

I wonder how long it'll be before I can chew over there? We go to Mexico in six weeks, and I sure want to be able to eat like a normal person.

 

[LittleBlue22]

my dentist keeps telling me I need to have my wisdom teeth pulled. All I see is $$$ for him. What are the consequences if you keep your wisdom teeth? Awww gawd, dry socket, pain, this thread is scaring me more from not doing it.

 

[claudia]

my dentist keeps telling me I need to have my wisdom teeth pulled. All I see is $$$ for him. What are the consequences if you keep your wisdom teeth? Awww gawd, dry socket, pain, this thread is scaring me more from not doing it.

would depend on why he is telling you to get them pulled. Are they impacted? Severely decayed? Making your other teeth start to shift? All good reasons to have them removed.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

You should be good to go in six weeks. I had another tooth pulled a couple of weeks ago. I was eating normally after a few days. This one will take a little longer to heal. He had to put a stitch in the extraction site. I was actually able to eat some baked beans for dinner tonight. I just couldn't stand another night of oatmeal or yogurt.

I've had scrambled eggs so many times, I don't think I'll eat them again! I might have a can of beans in the pantry! I'll have to go look!

ETA: I meant to ask if yours were lower molars?

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

my dentist keeps telling me I need to have my wisdom teeth pulled. All I see is $$$ for him. What are the consequences if you keep your wisdom teeth? Awww gawd, dry socket, pain, this thread is scaring me more from not doing it.

I only had to pay $200 OOP after my dental insurance. Mine all had cavities in them, so they needed to go.

It was my choice to have them pulled, versus having them cut out by an oral surgeon. I will say the pulling was intense; not painful, just intense. Especially the top one because it had a very long root. But really, I've had no pain or discomfort, with the exception of some jaw aches from holding my mouth open for so long.

He had me start taking pain pills immediately after, as a preemptive strike, and I think I took two more and that's it.

 

[RadioNate]

I had a dry socket. Wisdom tooth pulled on Thursday, dry socket on Sat.

It was the WORST PAIN I have EVER felt in my life!!!! Trust me, you will know! Yes it was worse than labor!

I can't even explain it except to say it was horrid. I couldn't even move off the couch let alone post online.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I had a dry socket. Wisdom tooth pulled on Thursday, dry socket on Sat.

It was the WORST PAIN I have EVER felt in my life!!!! Trust me, you will know! Yes it was worse than labor!

I can't even explain it except to say it was horrid. I couldn't even move off the couch let alone post online.

Worse than selling a house?

Speaking of... did you sell it yet?

 

[RadioNate]

Worse than selling a house?

Speaking of... did you sell it yet?

Physically yes!

No we haven't sold yet. We have 2 agents on it, they are a married couple. There is nothing more we can do but wait. Nothing has sold in our neighborhood in months. The 1 that had a contract lost it right before closing just like we did, wonder if it was the same guy???

We've dropped the price by about 10%, painted everything, updated the landscaping, had the carpets cleaned, hired maids, hired the landscapers and lawn care people, offered a home warranty, and are now spifing the buyers agent (they get 3.5% and my agent is taking 2.5%). So we wait and wait.

I had my dry socket 15 years ago and I still remember how miserable I was.

 

[figment52]

As others have said there is mucho pain with a Dry Socket - and OTC painkillers will not even make a dent in the pain.