Preventing and Treating Dry Sockets

Following tooth extractions, the biggest risk facing a patient is a dry socket. We at Summit Dental Group take steps to prevent this, including fully informing our clients about what to do during their recoveries. But dry sockets are still possible, particularly following complicated extractions which required suturing, so we want our patients to know when to seek help.

It is very important that patients inform us of all their medications. Clot formation is necessary to prevent dryness and infection, and the clot will need to remain in place for most of the healing process. Actions such as sipping through a straw and smoking pose an unacceptable risk of dislodging the clot.

If a clot is dislodged, the socket will probably dry out within two days. If patients don’t see that the clot is missing, they will know it by their intense pain. This should be treated as an emergency. We will clean the socket and apply medicated wound dressing to the surgical site. This dressing will need to be changed every few days, which will allow us to more closely monitor the patient’s recovery. We will also provide the patient with necessary medication.

Dr. Charles W. Crouch and Dr. Hai Nguyen operate Summit Dental Group at two locations. For the office at 4769 Barwick Dr, Fort Worth, Texas, 76132, call 817-294-8505. For the office at 838 South Carrier Pkwy, Grand Prairie, Texas, 75051, call 972-695-2310. You can also visit SummitDentalGroupLLC.com and request an appointment. We are open six days a week to serve you.