Dry Sockets

We regularly carry out extractions at Southern Cross Dental and our patients always leave with clear post-operation instructions. Nevertheless, we are on the lookout for complications and want our patients to know how to recognize signs of a dry socket.

When a tooth is removed, a hole leading down to the jawbone will be left open. It is necessary for the patient to develop a blood clot to seal this off until it naturally closes, or else the socket will painfully dry out, leaving the patient vulnerable to infection. Therefore, we will need to know all the medications the patient is on before the extraction in order to determine if any of them will interfere with clot formation. Patients will also have to abstain from sipping through straws or otherwise creating suction in their mouths which could dislodge the clot once it’s been formed.

Dry sockets are most likely after difficult extractions that required incisions and sutures. They usually develop within two days of the extraction. Patients who are in severe pain should request an emergency appointment. We will clean the socket and provide medicated wound dressing in place of the clot. We will monitor the patient’s recovery much more closely after that and provide prescriptions if painkillers or antibiotics are necessary.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit SouthernCrossFamilyDentistry.com and fill out a contact sheet.