I had to get a tooth pulled on Friday-horrible ordeal. My bottom right side of my face was swollen about the size of a baseball because it was so infected. I went to the dentist and he had to pull it (old rool canal that went bad) and because of the infection, the painkillers did not really work so I felt darn near EVERYTHING!!!! I have been on pain killers and antioboitics since than. In a conversation with my MIL she mentioned something about dry socket??? I have been so out of it, I am not sure what she meant by it. Anyone know?

__________________

OUCH!!! I am so sorry! I hate dental work so I can only begin to imagine.

I did find this on line... and yes as the article predicted, I winced...

Dry socket - MayoClinic.com

__________________

I had that. It sucks to say the least. It's pretty much when the blood clot comes out and leaves the bone exposed. Here's a link I found for you
Dry Socket

ETA: I guess 2bearsmom and I posted at the same time

__________________

I have had dry socket twice. It sucks. I TOTALLY FEEL FOR YOU!

__________________
"If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you." ~Nietzsche

My crafty/scrappy blog: http://paperscissorsthread.blogspot.com/
Christmas Card Challenge! 72/72 I'm ALL DONE!!!

I had to have a tooth removed that sounds about like yours...old root canal, horribly infected, etc...and then I got an implant. I DID get a dry socket afterwards and that hurt more than the surgery to remove the tooth. Actually my surgery sounds much better than yours although part of the tooth did break off and he was practically on my chest with pliers try to yank the other half off...but I was so numb I could just feel the pressure and no pain.

But a dry socket is when you lose the blood clot that forms where the tooth was removed. They tell you not to suck on a straw or smoke cigarettes or anything that could dislodge it. I had to go back about 3 times and they painted the hole with zinc oxide (or something like that) and then repacked it. But it hurt like he$$. So I seriously hope you don't get it!!!!!

__________________

Thank you all for the info. I have no symptoms and have been very careful in what I am doing. I would say as of right now, I do not have any problems. Still some pain and swelling, but nothing like it was before I got it pulled and I am being very good about taking my anitbiotics and pain pills. Thanks again!

__________________

Get better soon! I have so many fears of the dentist.

I am totally terrified of the dentist! But I knew that my tooth was absessed and knew that it wasnt going away. So I just had to suck it up and go. I am glad I did, despite the more pain, but at least I got some good drugs. I would bet that I will feel totally back to normal by friday.

__________________