The dentists at the Atlanta Dental Group PC believe that the best dry socket treatment is to leave a dry socket alone and to support patients nutritionally and with pain medications to ease the dental pain. Fortunately, like a bad cold, dry socket pain almost always goes away by itself after several days to a week. Over-the-counter pain medications, such as Tylenol, Motrin, or Alleve, do not help very much. In most cases a narcotic pain reliever is needed and can be used with over these over-the-counter medications. Narcotics such as Tylenol Number 3 or percocet are usually effective in controling dry socket symptoms.

          Many dentists provide dry socket treatment by packing a dry socket with medications to help decrease the pain. However, the packing process can irritate the problem and when the medication wears off in two hours, the pain sometimes returns worse than before it was packed so it's usually best to leave the area alone. We reserve the use of dry socket packing only for severe cases but fortunately, we have very few severe dry sockets.

          Probably the best dry socket treatment is to rest and eat well. Your body has to heal and it needs the materials provided in food to do this. Many patients with a dry socket don't eat because it hurt but this is totally the wrong thing to do. Taking a few days off of work will usually not kill you and you can sleep whenever you wish. This is a very good reason to have any elective oral surgery done at the end of the week.    

          The dentists at the Atlanta Dental Group PC are dedicated to their patients' good health and well being. You are welcome to join our family of patients. They offer Cosmetic and General Dentistry to patients of all ages. Fortunately, very little dry socket treatment is needed in out practice. If you need dental care and would like to consult with our senior dentist in atlanta, Dr. Mark Allan Padolsky, please make an appointment at 404-874-7428.