Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffTreatment of dry socket is mainly geared toward reducing its symptoms, particularly pain. Dry socket treatment includes:
- Flushing out the socket. Your dentist or oral surgeon flushes the socket to remove any food particles or other debris that has collected in the socket and that may contribute to pain or infection.
- Medicated dressings. Your dentist or oral surgeon packs the socket with medicated dressings. This step provides relatively fast pain relief. You may need to have the dressings changed several times in the days after treatment starts. The severity of your pain and other symptoms determines how often you need to return for dressing changes or other treatment.
- Pain medication. Talk to your doctor about which pain medications are best for your situation. If over-the-counter pain relievers aren't effective, you may need a stronger prescription pain medication.
- Self-care. You may be instructed how to flush the socket at home to promote healing and eliminate debris. To do this, you'll be given a plastic syringe with a curved tip to squirt water, salt water, or a prescription rinse into the socket. You'll be instructed to continue the rinse until the socket no longer collects any debris.
Once treatment is started, you may begin to feel some pain relief in just a few hours. Pain and other symptoms should continue to improve and will likely resolve within five to 10 days.
References
- Benko P. Emergency dental procedures. In: Roberts J, et al., eds. Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/214478851-3/0/2083/0.html. Accessed Aug. 13, 2010.
- Noroozi AR, et al. Modern concepts in understanding and management of the "dry socket" syndrome: Comprehensive review of the literature. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology & Endodontics. 2009;107:30.
- Blum IR. Contemporary views on dry socket (alveolar osteitis): A clinical appraisal of standardization, aetiopathogenesis and management: A critical review. International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 2002;31:309.
- Preparing for third molar removal. NIH Clinical Center. National Institutes of Health. http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/patient_education/tests_procedures.html. Accessed Aug. 13, 2010.
- Cardoso CL, et al. Clinical concepts of dry socket. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 2010;68:1922.
- Wisdom teeth. American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. http://www.aaoms.org/wisdom_teeth.php. Accessed Aug 13, 2010.
Find Mayo Clinic on