When you have your tooth removed, it is expected you feel some pain after the numbing effect of the anaesthesia wears off. Your dentist will give pain relieving medication to take the pain away. Sometimes, your dentist may insist you take the pain relieving medication before you leave the clinic so you do not feel pain when the numbness wears off.
If after removing your tooth, you experience pain which disturbs your activities and does not improve on taking pain relieving drugs, you probably have a condition known as ‘Dry Socket‘.
Dry socket commonly occurs after removing a very difficult tooth; mostly the wisdom tooth. It can also occur after the removal of an infected tooth.
Under normal circumstances, when a tooth is pulled out, blood fills up the space it is pulled out from(the socket) and thickens to form a clot which aids the healing process. The term ‘Dry socket’ is used when blood clot that filled the space a tooth is pulled out from is lost thereby exposing the underlying bone.
Pain from ‘dry socket’ typically starts about 48hours after the tooth is removed. Pain is severe and may disturb sleep.
Those at risk of having dry socket
1. People who smoke.
2. Women who make use of oral contraceptives.
3. Those with prior infections of the gum/tooth.
Treatment
Once you notice the pain, notify your dentist immediately.
Your dentist will clean out the area and place some dressings(medicinal) in the space which will help relieve the pain and aid healing. The dressing may need to be changed a few times till pain ceases and healing starts.
See also 6 Tips to preventing severe pain after pulling out a Tooth(dry socket)