Expert: Joel S. Teig, DMD, Diplomate ABOMS, retired - 5/4/2007

Question
QUESTION: My upper right wisdom teeth blood clot fell out the day of my non impacted wisdom teeth extraction.  Now is the next day and my upper left is loose and about to fall down as well.  I was wondering if you can tell me how common is it to get a dry socket in the upper jaw or will it still be able to grow back normally?  I had all 4 extracted.  I can still see my two bottom blood clots.
ANSWER: Linh -  Just due to gravity, the blood clots on the upper teeth occasionally fall out after extraction.  Retaining the clot is best and that can definitely be assisted via sutures at the time of extractions.  

Dry sockets are very uncommon on the upper wisdom teeth.  The vascular flow to the area is sufficient to maintain blood flow to the bone surrounding the extraction.  This relatively greater blood flow on the upper greatly decreases the chance of dry sockets on upper teeth.

So leave the area alone.  Begin warm salt water rinses tomorrow for 5 minutes 3 times a day to keep everything clean and just wait out the healing.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me again.

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QUESTION: Thanks so much for the response because I have been anxious due to my dentist's inability to respond since its the weekend.  I have followed the post operative care with the salt water and the soft foods but as I was looking at my bottom blood clots on my bottom jaw, they look loose.  A little whiteish jelly like.  Does that mean they are about to dislodge as well?  I know women have a higher chance of blood clots dislodging due to higher estrogen.  Is there anything I can do?  This is the 3rd day now.
ANSWER: Linh -  It sounds like it is starting to heal normally at this stage. I would suggest that you continue the warm saline rinses.  

Any more questions, I am available.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Today is exactly a week from the day my wisdom teeth were extracted.  I was wondering if you could tell me how long does it take for the sockets to heal?  I have been trying to eat normally now because a soft diet just isn't enough for me but I can't tell if any food gets stuck.  I rinse with warm saline but I never see food particles come out.  How would I know if it is infected due to food?  Thanks again and hope to hear from you soon
ANSWER: Linh -  First of all, you would know if there was an infection.  There would be pain and swelling in the area.  

The healing of a socket, especially on where the clot was lost, can take up to 6 weeks.  It heals from the bottom up and that takes time.

Again, any more questions, I'm available.

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QUESTION: Today marks exactly 2 weeks since my non impacted wisdom teeth extraction.  The only problem is I no longer see my blood clots.  I see gaping holes now.  I have no pain and the sockets have looked like this for 3 days now.  Is that normal?  How long will it take to heal and close up?

Answer
Linh -  What you see is not unusual in some healings after extractions.  Just keep it all clean and healing should proceed normally.  It can take weeks to months for the sockets to completely heal  Just keeping it clean assists the body and speeds up the healing.