Conflicting advice?

[serendippyty]

I hope this is the right place to post this...

I'm very paranoid about dry socket (as you may have noticed!), so much so that I have still eaten nothing but soup since my teeth were removed on Monday morning.

But I was trawling through teh archives and I read Gordon said that dry socket usually occurs between 24 and 48 hours after extraction, yet zzzdentist says it usually occure 4-5 days after extraction...

So I just wondered which is right

 

[NotAloneISee]

I am not a dentist, but I had three wisdom teeth and another tooth taken out in September and October. I was also paranoid about dry socket. My research showed that if you haven't experienced it by now, then it is highly unlikely that you will.

And as a note, I also learned that hot liquids could cause dry sockets. And you say you have had HOT soup all week? Just kidding.

So, unless you had a difficult tooth surgery, I think you are okay with eating normal.

I was told that I could eat what I wanted when I was ready, but I had simple extractions. The only thing I had to do was keep my mouth rinsed with saline water a few times each day. And also keep the holes rinsed.

It has been two months, and I can report that all was well. And yes, I ate barbecued chicken wings eight hours after having three teeth extracted. And I am alive to talk about it.

Relax...my guess is that you are fine.

 

[serendippyty]

LOL! You're right about the soup, perhaps I should have had it lukewarm

That's reassuring thanks, I'm not sure mine are healing too quickly - I've read that other people by this stage have noticed their gums turning greyish and mine still look red and bloody but hopefully we'll get there soon!

 

[travisb]

if it helps, i got dry socket about 3-4 days after my tooth was extracted (which was 3 days ago, still have the dry socket on day 7 after my extraction). although, its not the "agonizing worst pain ive ever felt" that many people who have had it claim. mine is a very dull pain that comes and goes, usually when i drink very cold liquid. im also a smoker and smoked 48hours after the extraction which may or may not have been the reason (im sure it didnt help)... my only advice would to go into the dentist ASAP if you feel ANY "sharp" pain (you'll know what i mean, its different than the normal soreness of the extraction site) or if it starts to taste/smell funky, which is exactly what i did and am in very little pain with a dry socket. not sure if im just lucky, high tolerance to pain (which i do have a high tolerance, but i also have very sensitive nerves i just know how to deal with the pain), or if i got it treated in a timely fashion and got it taken care of before the agonizing pain started.

anyways, wish i could help you more and tell you youre fine to eat normal foods now, but i have a dry socket so i cant say much

 

[serendippyty]

Thanks yes that does help to know, so it seems you can get it several days after.

All me extraction sites hurt today so I'm still on a liquid diet!

 

[drhirst]

In my experience most start almost exactly 48 hours after the extraction. It is a deep severe pain in the jaw bone. If you have not had that by now you can probably relax!!!

 

[serendippyty]

Thank you, that is really good to know.

I'm 5 days post extraction now, in another 5 days I am really hoping I'm healed a bit more so I can eat Xmas dinner!

 

[Zzzdentist]

I find that the extraction site can be sore for the first few days so it's difficult to tell for sure whether it is a dry socket or just due to the extraction itself. I figure that about day 4 or 5 if things aren't getting better but are progressively getting more painful with radiating pain down the jaw accompanied by a foul odour from the socket, that's more likely a dry socket.

The process itself certainly could be starting at day two, but I find it too early to be able to tell for sure so that's why I use the 4-5 day general timeline. Otherwise, people who are sore 2 days after an extraction would be wondering and calling up asking if they have a dry socket, no? So, at the time where most people usually should be starting to feel a bit better, I find that's easier to tell what the diagnosis is.

It's kind of like saying "I have an itchy throat." It's been there for a couple of days. Are you coming down with a cold? I really couldn't tell you as it could be simply because you were at a smokey bar all night or just been walking around a dry desert. If that throat is still itchy after 4-5 days and is getting worse, then there's probably more to go on at that point.

 

[brit]

Yikes...a House type persona ...hold on to your hats folks!

I'd say Merry Christmas but House would just say: 'Bah humbug!'

 

[serendippyty]

Thanks everyone, I think I am just overly paranoid!

 

[drhirst]

I find that the extraction site can be sore for the first few days so it's difficult to tell for sure whether it is a dry socket or just due to the extraction itself. I figure that about day 4 or 5 if things aren't getting better but are progressively getting more painful with radiating pain down the jaw accompanied by a foul odour from the socket, that's more likely a dry socket.

The process itself certainly could be starting at day two, but I find it too early to be able to tell for sure so that's why I use the 4-5 day general timeline. Otherwise, people who are sore 2 days after an extraction would be wondering and calling up asking if they have a dry socket, no? So, at the time where most people usually should be starting to feel a bit better, I find that's easier to tell what the diagnosis is.

It's kind of like saying "I have an itchy throat." It's been there for a couple of days. Are you coming down with a cold? I really couldn't tell you as it could be simply because you were at a smokey bar all night or just been walking around a dry desert. If that throat is still itchy after 4-5 days and is getting worse, then there's probably more to go on at that point.

Good point ZZ