Dry socket anxiety

[Alije]

I had a tooth removed about 36 hours ago now. It was an upper molar. I’ve previously had a couple of molars extracted with no issues. However this time the dentist said I wasn’t bleeding much post extraction and decided to pack it with brown fibrous things - think she said it was called Alvey gel or something. Anyway currently minimal pain but some discomfort. But I’m really anxious about dry socket now - I guess I have it if there wasn’t bleeding but when will the large amounts of pain start? And will the gel thing need replacing? She didn’t prescribe any pain relief so I’m just taking ibuprofen and paracetamol currently. Thank you for your help/ advice. Just really worried about dry socket and being in pain for a long period of time.

 

[Gordon]

36 hrs is well past the likely time for dry socket, so I'm pretty certain you're safe The gel stuff (Alvogyl) is designed to dissolve away in the socket, you don't need to worry about it.

 

[Alije]

@Gordon thank you. So you think it’s not too high a risk now I’ve gone past the 48 hour (2 days) mark? Another quick question sorry, when can I start introducing more solid things like pancakes or scones etc? At the moment I’m living off yoghurts and mashed potato. Just very conscious especially with this fibre thing in. If it doesn’t fall or dissolve out it that okay? And am I likely to get tons of pain if and when it does come out? It’s still in there because I can see it in the mirror. Sorry for all the questions and thank you.

 

[Gordon]

Yes, you're well past the danger period now. 99% of the dry sockets I've seen happen almost as soon as the local wears off...
Go ahead and eat what you want, it's fine. Don't worry about the Alvogyl, the important bits of it at the bottom of the socket willl get incorporated into the healing tissues and dissolved away by your white blood cells. You won't get a lot of pain if any of it falls out.