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Dry Socket
Dry Socket

Dry Socket

Introduction

This is a post extraction complication due to failure to form a clot (dry socket). The condition is very painful and it differs from an infected socket by lack of clotting and levels of severity of pain.

Pathophysiology

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Signs and symptoms

• Severe pain in few days after a tooth extraction
• Visible bone in the socket
• Partial or total loss of the blood clot at the tooth extraction site
• Pain that radiates from the socket to ear, eye, temporal area or neck on the same side of face as the extraction
• Bad breath
• Unpleasant taste

Diagnostic criteria

• Severe pain 2–4 days post-extraction
• Pain exacerbated by entry of air on the site
• Socket devoid of clot
• Surrounded by inflamed gingiva

Investigation

X-ray of the teeth and mouth to rule out other causes like osteomyelitis

Treatment

Non-pharmacological

    • Treatment is under local anesthesia with lignocaine 2%
    • Socket debridement and irrigation with hydrogen peroxide 3%.
    • The procedure of irrigation is repeated the 2nd and 3rd day and where necessary can be extended to the 4th day if pain persists. On follow-up visits local anesthesia is avoided unless necessary.
    • The aim of debridement in this case is to initiate bleeding and formation of fresh clot.

Pharmacological

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Prevention

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Updated on,

4 Novemba 2020, 07:16:06

References

1.STG

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