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Dry Socket
Aka: Dry Socket, Alveolar Periostitis
- See Also
- Tooth Extraction
- Epidemiology
- Complicates 5-20% of Tooth Extractions
- Pathophysiology
- Blood clot is lost prematurely at the extraction site
- Painful, localized Bone Infection at the extraction site
- Risk Factors
- Posterior mandibular teeth
- Advanced age
- Tobacco Smoking
- Poor Oral Hygiene
- Symptoms
- Precautions
- Trismus is not typically present
- Consider alternative diagnosis (e.g. dental abscess)
- Severe Dental Pain
- Onset 3-4 days after Tooth Extraction (delayed beyond typical post-extraction pain)
- Not relieved with Acetaminophen and NSAIDS
- Halitosis
- Management
- Anesthetize the area
- See Inferior Alveolar Block
- See Periapical Block (Supraperiosteal Dental Anesthesia)
- Protect the socket
- Flush the socket with saline
- Apply Dry Socket paste
- Course
- Expect pain improvement within 20 minutes of applying paste
- Paste typically lasts for 5 days, but reapplication may be needed sooner
- Additional Measures
- Analgesics
- Antibiotics may be indicated
- References
- Broderick and Deak (2015) Crit Dec Emerg Med 29(1): 2-8