Can you get dry socket with a temporary bridge

During your appointment today, one or more of your teeth was prepared for a crown or bridge.  A temporary crown was fabricated for each prepared tooth.  Temporary crowns are cemented with a temporary dental cement to allow for easy removal at your next appointment.  Temporary crowns are of universal size and shade.  Your final restoration will be shaped and shaded to match your other teeth in both color and function. 

Until your next appointment:

  • Whenever anesthesia is used, avoid chewing on your teeth until the numbness has worn off.
  • You may experience sensitivity to temperature and pressure, gum soreness and slight discomfort on the tooth / teeth; it should subside after the placement of permanent crown.
  • Avoid hard or sticky foods that may dislodge temporary crowns, such as:
    • Hard chewy breads such as bagels or French bread. 
    • Chewy candies such as taffy, caramels or gum. 
    • Hard crunchy foods such as corn nuts or popcorn kernels.
    • Do not bite into foods such as corn on the cob or apples. 
  • If a temporary crown becomes loose or comes off, try to place it back onto the tooth and call the office at your convenience to get the crown re-cemented. Temporary cement is also available at most drug/grocery stores. 
  • Rinse your mouth with Listerine™ mouthwash or warm salt water to minimize inflammation of the gum tissue.
  • Acrylic temporaries attract more bacterial plaque than natural teeth; therefore it is important to brush normally, at least three times a day. Floss at least once a day, but floss carefully and don’t pull up on the floss which may dislodge the temporary. Pull the floss out from the side of the temporary crown. 
  • You may experience sensitivity to hot or cold foods or beverages after treatment.
  • Mild to moderate discomfort after dental work is common. An over the counter pain reliever/anti-inflammatory is recommended for patients who are able to tolerate them. (Tylenol™, Advil™, Aleve™, etc.) If discomfort increases, please call the office. 

If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call your doctor.

Nothing can replace a permanent natural tooth. But there are times when your adult tooth needs to be extracted. Having an impacted wisdom tooth, infection, severe decay, or injury can call for a tooth removal. But you don’t need to worry too much because an extraction by an expert can bring back your mouth to good health, eliminate the pain and discomfort due to the disease, and completely restore your tooth.
But, sometimes things don’t go as planned. Tooth extraction can bring with it a risk of dry socket. Now you may be thinking, “What is a dry socket, and when can you stop worrying about it after an extraction?” Keep reading to find answers to your concerns.

What is a Dry Socket?

A dry socket is a painful condition that can occur when your jaw is recovering from permanent tooth removal. When a tooth is extracted, it leaves an empty socket behind. To fill in the hole, your body tries to form a blood clot which is an essential part of the healing process. Clotting prevents infection by keeping the bacteria, food debris, and other contaminants out of the socket.
Sometimes, the blood clot fails to develop or gets dislodged due to several factors, exposing the surgery site.
You shouldn’t think of dry socket as a minor issue. Along with causing excruciating pain, it can elongate your healing process. The exposed socket can attract infections to the gum or jaw bone from where the tooth was extracted. When you eat or drink, food particles can easily get trapped in the uncovered hole. In addition to increasing the risk of infection, it can result in pain and bad breath.

What Are The Causes of Dry Socket?

A dry socket can occur when the healing process is interrupted. Here are some common reasons why you may develop a dry socket.

  • If your gum tissue is swollen or infected before the tooth extraction, the chances of dry socket increase.
  • Smoking creates a suction motion that can dislodge the blood clot, leading to a dry socket. Chewing tobacco can expose the empty socket to bacteria that can cause infections. For a speedy and healthy recovery, it’s important to follow the aftercare tips of your dentist or oral surgeon.
  • Brushing your teeth vigorously or on the extraction site or forcefully rinsing can slow down healing, or at worst, give you a dry socket.
  • Drinking with a straw before the gums heal completely can dislocate the blood clot and cause a dry socket. It’s essential to follow the care instructions of your dentist for a comfortable recovery.

When Can I Stop Worrying About Dry Socket?

Until and unless your hole heals completely, there are chances of dry socket formation. Typically you can stop worrying about the dry socket after 7-10 days because this is the amount of time that gums take to close. However, everyone heals at their own time, depending on age, oral health, hygiene, and other factors.
Believe in your care team and instantly communicate if you experience abnormal symptoms. Call your doctor if:

  • you have a severe toothache
  • bad taste in the mouth
  • significant inflammation
  • have a fever after tooth removal

Will Dry Socket Heal On Its Own?

If you think you have a dry socket, schedule an appointment with your dentist. Your doctor can help you best deal with the issue.

  • While you wait for your appointment, gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water. A salty mixture has antibacterial properties that speed up the healing process.
  • Apply a cold compress to the surgery site for 15 minutes on and off. This can help minimize the swelling. Later you can apply heat with a cloth to reduce pain.
  • Placing damp black tea bags can also help manage the pain and inflammation. Place the tea bag for 15 minutes on the surgery site.
  • Your doctor may recommend rinsing your mouth with an antibiotic rinse to help with the healing. Follow the provided instruction for a fast and healthy recovery.

How to Prevent Dry Socket

If you suspect a dry socket, don’t just ignore it. After your tooth extraction, follow the care instructions by your dentist, avoid smoking or drinking from the straw, and rest as much as you can. Until your gum heals completely, there’s always the risk of a dry socket. So, don’t miss your dental appointments and ask for medical help if you have abnormal symptoms.

Can you get a dry socket after getting a temporary crown?

Smoking immediately after installing a temporary crown can cause several oral problems for you. One of the problems is the dry socket where blood clots happen in the tooth extraction site. It's a painful procedure, so you should be careful about it.

Can you get a temporary bridge after tooth extraction?

You may need to wait for 5-6 months after tooth extraction before your gums can form properly and stabilize to have a dental bridge.

How long can a temporary bridge be left in?

A temporary bridge is an important step in the process of getting the perfect permanent dental bridge. A temporary bridge is a solution to protect your teeth and help you drink or eat until the permanent bridge is ready. According to the experts at Lane DDS, temporary bridges can last up to 6 months.

What can I expect from a temporary bridge?

Temporary bridges include structures that look like real teeth, but they are not permanent, so it is crucial to return to the dentist within a few weeks. Once the real bridge is ready, the dentist removes the temporary structures and affixes the bridge using strong adhesives.