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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Itching At The Site Of Tooth Extraction ?

Hi there, I had my lower left molar extracted on Saturday 21st February of which I am extremely worried I now have dry socket. The blood clot formed fine but was gone by Sunday when I had woken up. I was not informed about drinking through a straw by my dentist so I had done this, perhaps only for a few minutes, on the day of extraction. The site has gone yellowish and has brown gunk in this which I cannot seem to remove by salt water rinses. I tried to remove this gunk carefully and gently with saline soaked cotton buds and the smell was horrendous. I can taste and smell this foul smell coming from the extraction site despite cleaning this with salt water. The site feels itchy and face is still swollen, 4 days after the extraction. I have slight pain but would like to know if this is dry socket, if catching it early, would this make it heal faster?

I should probably add that I had the extraction due to an infection in the tooth of which I have finished one course of Amoxicillin for.

I will be contacting my dentist as soon as it opens, however, I would just like a bit of guidance until I can do so.

Thank you
Thu, 4 Jun 2015
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Dentist,  's  Response
Hi..
Can understand your concern..

As per your complain it is very clear from the first line itself that if you have lost the blood clot on the second day so as of now you have developed DRY SOCKET.

All the symptoms of itching, foul smell and swelling are all symptoms of dry socket. Once the blood clot is dislodged the healing does not takes place as blood clot acts as a medium through which the healing process begins.

Although you have completed the medicines and doing salt water rinses the symptoms of dry socket will persist in absence of the clot.
The symptoms appears due to inflammation in the walls of the socket.

You should immediately visit the dental surgeon and get the treatment done to avoid exaggeration of symptoms..

The dentist will irrigate the socket using hydrogen peroxide, betadine and normal saline followed by placement of a dressing into the socket containing sterile gauze coated with ZINC OXIDE EUGENOL.
The dressing has to be changed every alternate day.

Along with it taking anti inflammatory painkiller like Ibugesic plus and a course of antibiotic to prevent infection is needed.

Hope your query is solved..

If you find the answer helpful please write a positive review and click on find this answer helpful as a token of appreciation..

Thanks and regards..
Dr.Honey Nandwani Arora.
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What Causes Itching At The Site Of Tooth Extraction ?

Hi.. Can understand your concern.. As per your complain it is very clear from the first line itself that if you have lost the blood clot on the second day so as of now you have developed DRY SOCKET. All the symptoms of itching, foul smell and swelling are all symptoms of dry socket. Once the blood clot is dislodged the healing does not takes place as blood clot acts as a medium through which the healing process begins. Although you have completed the medicines and doing salt water rinses the symptoms of dry socket will persist in absence of the clot. The symptoms appears due to inflammation in the walls of the socket. You should immediately visit the dental surgeon and get the treatment done to avoid exaggeration of symptoms.. The dentist will irrigate the socket using hydrogen peroxide, betadine and normal saline followed by placement of a dressing into the socket containing sterile gauze coated with ZINC OXIDE EUGENOL. The dressing has to be changed every alternate day. Along with it taking anti inflammatory painkiller like Ibugesic plus and a course of antibiotic to prevent infection is needed. Hope your query is solved.. If you find the answer helpful please write a positive review and click on find this answer helpful as a token of appreciation.. Thanks and regards.. Dr.Honey Nandwani Arora.