Recently, (November 2025) I had the misfortune of experiencing the second "dry socket" of my life - the first following a tooth extraction in London (October 2024) at another dental clinic. Some people are just prone to getting a "dry socket". A clot is supposed to form and I had left Rock House with a good one in place. The anaesthetic had worn off t...
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Recently, (November 2025) I had the misfortune of experiencing the second "dry socket" of my life - the first following a tooth extraction in London (October 2024) at another dental clinic. Some people are just prone to getting a "dry socket". A clot is supposed to form and I had left Rock House with a good one in place. The anaesthetic had worn off that day, but by the time I could fully open my mouth a couple of days later, to my horror the crucial clot had vanished! (I had only drunk warm liquidised soup, being especially careful after my Oct 2024 experience not to upset the clot.) In its place instead was an empty or "dry socket".
Despite the fact that the pain was so bad that I was bordering on being incapable of my usual good manners, I rang the out-of-hours number and was swiftly directed in to see one of the dentists who irrigated and packed my "dry socket", making it full again. This eased the pain. Unfortunately, I also developed an infection. Two days later, I was back, and again, and again and then, unbelievably, twice more! Although the last time involved a wash and not repacking, (as healing was well under way) my dry socket was cleaned out and repacked; each time I was sent off: treated and reassured, also pain free for a good day or so. The antibiotics took a took nearly 72 hours to impact upon the pain.
I had been more than happy paying for all this treatment, never having been quite so impatient or demanding of dental care in my life, but I was not charged a penny. I was moreover encouraged to pop back whenever I felt I needed to.
Each dentist I saw was fantastically reassuring and professional which I particularly appreciated; my pain tolerance level unfortunately, at its absolute worst deteriorated to minus 10 on any courage scale. One dentist gave me a pain injection as the antibiotics had yet to kick in, which took nearly 72 hours.
One could trust any of these dentists here completely with one's life. Each one assessed the situation, as a Doctor and a Dentist and each time was slightly different and yet all gave it bespoke treatment. I feel so lucky. You are too if you are reading this. It's just the most extraordinary place.
I was directed here by a friend who had fallen out of an attic-hatch and damaged his teeth, among other bits of his anatomy. He told me never to go anywhere else, despite the fact that Wells is an hour away. Too many dentists (or perhaps it's their receptionists) make you feel you should wait or that they are "very busy at the moment". (Who isn't!?)
Rock House Dental is such a class act and I will always be so grateful to them. Whoever runs it manages an exceptionally good team.
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