“Is having a dry socket dangerous?”

No

Nope. Just pretty painful. Return to your surgeon to have it treated.

Dr. Sassack

Dry socket is painful, but easily treated. Dangerous only if left untreated. 

DRY SOCKET PAIN WILL HAVE PATIENTS CALLING THEIR DENTIST BACK. WHEN YOU HAVE AN EXTRACTION YOU ARE GIVEN A LIST OF "POST EXTRACTION INSTRUCTIONS". PATIENTS ARE WARNED ABOUT NO SMOKING OR VAPING AFTER AN EXTRACTION. THE NICOTINE FROM CIGARETTES PREVENTS, INTERFERES, OR DELAYS HEALING. YOU ARE INSTRUCTED
NOT TO RINSE YOUR MOUTH FOR 24 HOURS AFTER THE EXTRACTION. IF YOUR TOOTH WAS EXTRACTED AT 4:00 P.M. THAT MEANS YOU SHOULD NOT BE RINSING UNTIL 4:00 P.M. THE NEXT DAY. RINSING SEVERAL TIMES A DAY WITH WARM SALT WATER; RINSING AFTER EATING IS A MUST. FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS HAVE SALT PACKETS AND COMPLIMENTARY CUPS. USE A TONGUE CLEANER FOR YOUR TONGUE.
THE BLOOD CLOT THAT FORMS IN YOUR EXTRACTION SITE IS THOUGHT TO PROTECT THE EXTRACTION SITE FROM A DRY SOCKET. TRY NOT TO EAT ON THE SIDE YOUR TOOTH WAS EXTRACTED. WHEN YOU EAT, FOOD PARTICLES MAY GET ON YOUR EXTRACTION SITE AND RINSING WILL REMOVE IT. WHETHER YOU HAVE SUTURES OR NOT, CHEWING ON THE EXTRACTION SITE IRRITATES IT.
THE PAIN OF A DRY SOCKET IS DISTRESSING ENOUGH. AS TO IF
A DRY SOCKET IS DANGEROUS. THERE ARE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF
DENTISTS. SOME THEORIES ARE THAT BACTERIA ARE INVOLVED. OTHERS BELIEVE IT'S THE SUFACE TISSUE OF THE SOCKET THAT LOST ITS BLOOD CLOT.

No, dry socket is not dangerous. Just very painful. It will heal on its own. Just avoid sucking through straws or on cigarettes, pipes, etc.

A dry socket is dangerous in that healing in hindered. A dry socket occurs when a blood clot falls out of an extraction site and the bone is re-exposed to the oral environment. When you have a dry socket, healing of the area is slowed down and so getting into a dentist and having them place medicine into the dry socket is necessary to allow for proper healing.

Hey sorry you are dealing with a dry socket. Yes, a dry socket can be dangerous if left untreated. The main problem you may develop is infection. It is never a good idea to let infection harbor in a tooth socket!

Hi! I am so sorry to hear that. Whereas a healing dry socket is not exactly dangerous on its own, just very painful, it can become dangerous if the dry socket is or becomes infected. I would recommend following your dentists instructions, continue managing the pain, and flushing out the area carefully and gently with saline water stream over it. If it the socket doesn't seem to be getting better or feels more painful, I would definitely contact the doctor that removed the tooth and have a post op check to insure that it didn't get infected and that it is healing properly.

Hello,

Having dry socket is certainly not the end of the world. Sometimes it is pretty much unavoidable. Dry socket is simply losing the blood clot that forms right after having a tooth removed. This leaves your jaw exposed and unprotected while it heals. Most cases take up to 2 weeks to heal but it will heal eventually. Hope this helps.

Best of luck to you!

William F. Scott IV, DMD