Dry Socket Fear

ashesandsand · #1 6th November 2009, 00:39

Okay, I know this is one of those questions that has been asked and answered time and time again, but I figure every situation has a different outcome so I'm just going to go ahead and ask!

It'll be 72 hours today @ 12:30pm that I had my upper and lower wisdom teeth extracted on the right side. They were simple extractions done with nitrous oxide and a few anaesthetic needles. I have no stitches and there was no cutting of my jaw or anything horrid like that. They were both out within in minutes. Bleeding and use of gauze ceased within three hours and I had minimal swelling and pain. The worst I've experienced thus far is jaw tenderness from yanking them out.

I'm a smoker and even with patches this week has been hell. I'm planning on waiting until Sunday afternoon at the same time to have a cigarette and a coffee. And maybe a sandwich.

Will I still have a high chance of getting dry socket if I wait until Sunday? I've been freaking out about it since day 1. If I didn't know the condition existed this week would of been a lot easier! I've read all different things about when it's safe to resume normal behaviours but I'm just ridiculously paranoid now.

rubyshoes · #2 6th November 2009, 11:46

Well dentist told me I have to not smoke for at least a week after extractions or I run a high risk of dry socket to be honest I don't think you only get it if you smoke I think there's a chance anyway smoking just increases that chance. I'm planning to stop before extractions and knowing my dental luck I'll get it anyway LOL!

ruby

RP · #3 6th November 2009, 12:16

Sounds like the same confusion about when can dry socket hit. My instructions said no smoking for 72 hours. I lasted 12 hours, 4 teeth out, no dry sockets.

rp

fatcat · #4 6th November 2009, 16:13

Hey

I was paranoid too to the point where I googled it and spent hours reading about it. Sunday should be fine. My instructions said 24hrs, and said if you got the taste, odour or more pain within 1 or 2 days to come back. A dentist on here told me if I was ok at day 3 I should be out of the woods. Although I had seen some things saying 5-7 days til you are risk free. This time I waited 24hrs to smoke and I am ok so far, it has been 92 hrs for me now. I was drinking coffee pretty much as soon as the numbness wore off but only luke warm. They say those that are higher risk are women, older people, lower extractions, women on contraceptive pills and smokers. I had 4 out of those 5 and I was ok.

ashesandsand · #5 7th November 2009, 02:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatcat

I was paranoid too to the point where I googled it and spent hours reading about it.

Yes, that's pretty much what I've done the entire duration of my week off. Sigh.

I had half of one today and even then I was too paranoid to finish it. Plus my partner wouldn't let me, haha.

I think I'll wait till day seven to resume smoking. Slowly. It's amazing what fear can do to a person! One day I'm sure I'll look back and laugh.

Thanks for your input guys, it's eased my mind slightly.

RP · #6 7th November 2009, 03:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashesandsand

Yes, that's pretty much what I've done the entire duration of my week off. Sigh.

I had half of one today and even then I was too paranoid to finish it. Plus my partner wouldn't let me, haha.

I think I'll wait till day seven to resume smoking. Slowly. It's amazing what fear can do to a person! One day I'm sure I'll look back and laugh.

Thanks for your input guys, it's eased my mind slightly.

If i could go seven days, no way I'd start again, the withdrawl is over by then- I'm taking Chantix and am down to 5 cigs a day anticipating a 2 week no smoke law for gum surgery. Wish me luck.