Dry socket

[Emily]

I went to the dentist yesterday and found out I developed a dry socket. He packed it and it felt better but today the numbing has worn off and it feels like someone took a meat cleaver to my face. He told me nothing more than "The packing will eventually come out on its own" Is it common for dentists to not prescribe pain meds? Is it healthy to leave the same packing in for the entire healing process?

 

[svor1988]

Is it common for dentists to not prescribe pain meds?

In my experience yes that is uncommon. Typically they prescribe either a more concentrated ibuprofin dosage (plus a small bit of narcotic IIRC?) or just a narcotic like loratab. I disliked that personally given the addiction potential, they way overprescibed. Eventually I just started tossing the scripts... You should be fine with OTC ibuprofin or booze. I've had sockets with zero pain.

And yes it's healthy, IIRC do not remove it! Read up on socket healing. High correlation between leaving that initial thick blood there and a better heal and shallow socket. By cleaning it out you will get a permanent deeper socket. Don't brush it out when brushing teeth, don't suck on straws, and don't rinse forcefully, let it slide/drool out. Then again it is your mouth and you have the freedom to do whatever you want. Just be aware a deeper socket is considered worse (how it is worse I don't know).

 

[Emily]

Thanks for the reply. When I woke up this morning the pain and swelling was mysteriously gone with the exception of a few mild throbs. I feel heaps better. The dentist said just let it fall out when it wants to. The packing can make the healing process slower since it's a forgin body. I'm a little confused as to why the pain disappeared so fast but I'm not complaining lol.