So is it a dry socket or not??

Question:

I had two teeth pulled last week. About 4 days ago, I felt a chunk of my tooth still in my gums, and it hurt pretty bad. I went back to the dentist the next day, he looked at it and said that it WAS a small chunk of my tooth,but unfortantly he wouldn't be able get it out. He said it would heal on its own. But then he said later on in the convo. that it was a dry socket. I'm confused because I was under the impression that a dry socket was like an air bubble or something that forms when your gums heal over.....

Answers:
Sounds like you have a dentist who is not reliable. In my opinion, either he’s new or he’s just clumsy. Dry socket occurs when the blood clot at the site of a tooth extraction is disrupted prematurely. The socket can pack with food and bacteria. The pain typically last 2-4 days following the extraction. Do you have the symptoms like extreme pain, a foul taste, bad breath, and swelling in the infected area?? (if you have those, then you have dry socket!!)

A X-ray is usually required to determine if there is a leftover root tip or a dry socket. And in both cases, the socket will not heal itself. A dry socket paste is used if it's a dry socket and the dentist should remove the "small chunk of your tooth" if there is one. Go go back to the dentist, request a x-ray and afterwards, find a new dentist.

Other Answers:
didn't he take x-ray? that will show if there is a remaining tooth part in the socket,however, a dry socket is when u can see the jaw bone within the area of the tooth that has been pulled out, u might not know that this is the bone exposed and u will think its something white inside the socket as food debris or a part of the tooth but as , since u have pain and u saw something white then its a dry socket

I'm sure it is. Usually after you get your teeth pulled out mostly dentist leave parts of your tooth by accident. Did he take an x-ray? He should have because that would certainly tell you even by looking at it in zoom tells you right away. You need to take that socket out it well start infecting your gum and thats real pain that will cause cavitys. You need to go to the doctor or a Specialist, they'll know what to do. I'm warning you that socket is going to cause some real bad trouble.

I agree with Angela 100%. It is not satisfactory to leave a piece of tooth in the socket that is big enough for you to see when you look in the mirror. Sometimes tiny root tips are better left in place, but this does not sound like what you are describing. What you see might even be a piece of bone that has become visible since you have lost part or all of the blood clot. It is simply unacceptable for the dentist to not correctly identify whatever this is and treat you properly. I think you need to see an oral surgeon for an opinion, if you do not have a good recommendation for another general dentist. At least if you pick a board certified oral surgeon out of the yellow pages, you will have some indication about his/her level of competence.

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So is it a dry socket or not??

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