– Day 4. This is the final tooth extraction healing process, happening around seven to ten days after the extraction. The hole in the socket has, in most cases, closed up, the swelling has completely gone away, and the patient can now resume eating solid foods 4 days after tooth extraction.
Dry socket usually occurs within 3-5 days of an extraction and more commonly in the lower jaw. Symptoms include severe pain, a throbbing sensation, an unpleasant taste, a fever, or swollen glands. It can last for up to 7 days. By following your dentist's instructions carefully, dry socket can usually be prevented.
3 Days Post Extraction
After about 3 days, the empty tooth socket will have mostly healed. There should be no more bleeding present, and swelling should be minimal at this point. You may still experience some tenderness or soreness, but you should no longer feel pain or discomfort.
Most people find tooth extraction pain passes after three days, however this can vary from patient to patient. If you still feel pain after three to five days, consider booking back in with your dentist for a follow-up appointment.
So, what does normal healing look like after a Tooth Extraction? A healthy tooth extraction site should look deep red with white gelatinous tissues forming over time.
If you recently had a tooth extracted, you may notice a white formation in your tooth socket. This white material is usually granulation tissue, a fragile tissue composed of blood vessels, collagen, and white blood cells. Granulation tissue is a normal part of your body's healing process and is not cause for concern.
Days 5-7: By now, most of the swelling, discoloration, and soreness should be minimal. If you were given antibiotics to prevent infection, be sure to finish the entire 7-day course.
Signs of infection after extraction
Instead of the pain getting better from the extraction, it gets worse. The bleeding continues for more than 24 hours. Experiencing an unpleasant or foul smell coming from the mouth. Seeing discharge in or around the area.
About 3 days after your tooth extraction, your gums will begin to heal and close around the removal site. And finally, 7-10 days after your procedure, the opening left by your extracted tooth should be closed (or almost closed), and your gums should no longer be tender or swollen.
The highest risk for this condition is between days 2-3 after tooth extraction. After day 4, the risk of dry socket is passed. This condition rarely happens (about 4% of all extractions) and is most common after bottom wisdom teeth extraction.
Your dentist will tell you to wait at least 24 hours before you clean the extraction site to allow the blood clot to form, but you can still softly brush your other teeth and your tongue.
Dry sockets become increasingly painful in the days after a tooth extraction. They may also have exposed bone or tissue, or an unpleasant smell. By comparison, normal healing sockets get less painful over time and do not cause any other symptoms. A dry socket can be very painful, but it is not usually serious.
Your dentist or oral surgeon may pack the socket with medicated gel or paste and medicated dressings. These can provide relatively fast pain relief. The severity of your pain and other symptoms will determine whether you need dressing changes and how often or if you need other treatment.
Will a dry socket heal on its own? Yes, in most cases a dry socket will heal on its own. However, because most people experience moderate to severe dry socket pain, seeing your dentist for prompt treatment can help ease discomfort sooner.
While it is normal for the area surrounding the extraction to be red and swollen, signs that could indicate a possible infection include: Pus: A white or yellow pus may be discharged from the socket. Swelling: Initial swelling is normal, but continued swelling could be cause for concern.
A healthy socket will be a hole with a noticeable blot clot in the center. If your socket appears white in color, chances are you are seeing exposed bone and have lost the blood clot. In cases where bacteria or infection cause the clot to dissolve, you may see a socket that is black, green, or yellow in color.
A bone infection after tooth extraction is a dangerous ailment. If not treated, a patient can go into sepsis. Sepsis is an infection caused by anything (virus, bacterial, fungal) that enters the bloodstream and can impair flow to the vital organs in your system.
DRY SOCKET
Remember having an increased pain on day 5-7 is not uncommon. To avoid dislodging the blood clot from the extraction site avoid rinsing your mouth, spitting, smoking or using straws with the first 24 hours after extraction.
When Can I Stop Worrying About Dry Socket? Until the full recovery of your extraction site, a dry socket can form if you fail to follow the care tips. Usually, a week (7-8 days) after wisdom tooth extraction, you can stop worrying about a dry socket as gums take this much time to close fully.
After a week, there should be no bleeding, and symptoms like pain, swelling, and bruising will fade significantly, too. You can usually start brushing the extraction site at this time, though you should still be gentle when doing so.
Pus. Pus is a sign of infection. It appears as a thick liquid that is yellow or white. It may also be accompanied by a bad taste in the patient's mouth, continued bleeding or swelling, worsening pain, and fever.
Dislodge the food by gently rinsing your mouth with warm salt water (saline) solution. Avoid swishing the water around and don't spit—this can lead to painful dry sockets. If you received a syringe from your clinician, you can use warm water or salt water to gently flush the socket clean.