Although it is rare, one of the biggest risks following a tooth extraction is that the socket may dry out. Normally, our patients at Fresh Meadows Dental Care are able to follow our instructions and avoid an emergency, but should the worst happen, we’re here to help.
A little bleeding is not only normal when a tooth is removed, it’s necessary. The empty socket needs to be sealed off with a clot or it will painfully dry out and be at risk for infection. To prevent this, we need our patients to provide information about all the medications they are taking, as some may prevent clotting. They also need to avoid sipping through a straw following the surgery, as this may rip off the clot prematurely.
A dry socket is more likely to develop following a difficult extraction that required an incision to be made and sutured. The appointment at which the sutures are removed allows us to ensure the socket is healing well, but the risk of dryness is usually highest in the first two days after the extraction. If a patient is in severe pain, they should come see us so we can apply medication to the surgical site and prescribe any painkillers or antibiotics that may be required.
Farid Hakimzadeh, DDS, operates Fresh Meadows Dental Care at 58-47 Francis Lewis Blvd., Suite 100, Oakland Gardens, New York, 11364. To schedule an appointment, call 718-224-7272 or visit FreshMeadowsDental.com and fill out a contact form.
No comments:
Post a Comment