Dry Socket

Buttonmoons

I had a tooth extracted on Monday - Backstory:

The tooth in question used to have a crown on it (back molar), fitted by a previous dentist at the same practice, he is now gone (thank god - zero people skills) he told me I needed it to save my tooth, ok - paid up got it fitted, not long after it I developed an abcess there and went back to the him, howling in pain - he told me it's because I smoke and then popped it - no warning, no nothing just dove in and did it - I don't think I've ever felt pain quite like it.

He put me right off the dentist, so skip ahead a year - I finally go back....as I'd been getting pain on/off when biting down on that tooth (which had also had a root canal done on it a long time before the crown came on the scene) - new dentist - Aw he is lovely so nice, explains everything - Took Xrays :eek::eek:

The tooth is gone, its just ALL decay, he said he's surprised it's still attached, so I leave telling him I will probably get it removed after Xmas, no it snapped off 5 days later with a jelly bean.

So Im left with a rotted stump - got it extracted on Monday, but it took him ages to get it out, as it was so difficult, he apologised profusely afterwards telling me to expect pain as it required a lot of pressure and digging around.

Yeah no bother, but now I have developed dry socket and I want to rip my face off, I never smoked a proper cig for 24 hours like he said (used an ecig), followed the instructions - he said it was more likely because of the trauma to remove the tooth, its a bottom tooth, molar etc etc.

I've been back to the dentist 3 times this week already to get it packed with the medicated gauze stuff, have a prescription for declofenac, no antibiotics as there is no pus, but I can hardly sleep the pain is so severe.

Its spread up to my ear, it's sore to swallow, the only thing that takes the edge off is taking more paracetamol than is allowed, which I don't want to do obviously, I haven't been able to go to uni, my life is on hold. The dentist said its a severe case of dry socket

Has anyone had this before? Any tips or suggestions on how to relieve the pain or help the healing? I've been rinising with corsydl like he said but I'm at a loss, I feel so so awful.

Sorry for the long ramble, for what essentially is advice on how to speed up the recovery/ get rid of the pain!

[Deleted User]

Poor you, that sounds awful, hope it gets better soon.

You might find information and forums at this website helpful:
http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/faq/healing/

tyllwyd

Don't take too much paracetemol! Have you tried asking a pharmacist for a stronger painkiller? You might be able to get co-codamol over the counter, or you might be able to alternate ibuprofen and paracetemol (following the pharmacist's advice, obviously).

ripplyuk

Could your dentist not prescribe strong painkillers? I know in the USA, they commonly get Vicodin for severe tooth pain. I don't know what the rules are here but it would be better than overdosing on weaker painkillers.

Regarding the ecig, my dentist explained to me that it is the sucking action of smoking that can cause a dry socket. So the ecig would do the same.

Hope you feel better soon.

FBaby

I did with a wisdom tooth extraction...soooooo painful. Got through it on high dose of co-codamol. It lasted a couple of days.

Hermia

Poor poor you. I had dry socket a couple of years ago and did not sleep for days.

Go to your doctor as they can prescibe strong painkillers. As soon as I told mine I had dry socket she went "eeek!" and prescribed strong painkillers and gave me some tips on how best to take them. They still didn't completely get rid of the pain, but it was better than nothing.

Buttonmoons

Thanks everyone, was back at the dentist on Friday and he repacked it which gave me relief but this is now sunday and I'm :eek: again, feels like my ear is about to burst, had about 45 minutes of sleep since yesterday, Im going to go back tomorrow and ask him to numb my face, I just need a few hours without the pain.

The thing with the painkillers is that things with codiene in them generally make me nauseus and eventually vomit. I have some tramadols in the cupboard from something else which I never took so im considering taking 1 tonight to see if i can sleep.

The dentist gave me a prescription on Friday for declofenac, but I was at a funeral after seeing him and it must of fell out my handbag.

I don't see pus or anything but there is still a disgusting taste coming out of the wound. I just wish it would heal, I've been off uni since Monday and they want a sick line from the doctors now (I have an appointment on Tues anyways for something unrelated) - I feel like my life is on standstill and everything is such effort, I'm exhausted, the ibuprofen has given me an upset stomach, and I'm just drained.

Buttonmoons

annnnnnnnnnd now it's infected. I was crying my eyes out in the dentists, the people in the waiting room must of thought I was off my head.

mrshippy

I had a dry socket before from smoking after an extraction and have never experienced pain like it. Clove oil, ibuprofen and salt water rinsing were what I did and it lasted the longest , most painful two days of my life. It was worse than childbirth !

PlutoinCapricorn

Buttonmoons, I am appalled to hear about all you are going through, although I admit it is partly selfishness as I am having my first ever extraction - of a wisdom tooth - soon. I have never smoked, but apparently being older makes the dreaded dry socket more likely. I have got sea salt, Ibuprofen and clove oil and a lot of other things ready.

I hope that something can be done for you.

Toothsmith

The clove oil will only irritate - ditch it.