Dry Socket

 Dry Socket or Alveolar Osteitis is a painful condition that can arise after a permanent adult tooth extraction. 

It happens when a blood clot does not form in the cavity to protect the exposed tissues.

It usually happens 3–5 days after surgery. A dry socket is a condition in which there is inflammation of the jawbone (or alveolar bone) after tooth extraction.

About 2% to 5% of people — develop dry sockets after a wisdom tooth extraction. 

After a tooth extraction, you're at risk of developing dry socket. 

This risk is present until you're fully healed, which may take 7 to 10 days in many cases.

Causes

The precise cause of dry socket remains the subject of study. 

Researchers suspect that certain issues may be involved, such as:

• Bacterial contamination of the socket
• Trauma at the surgical site from a difficult extraction, as with an impacted wisdom tooth

Risk factors

Smoking and tobacco use

 Sucking through a straw, or forceful spitting after extraction

Oral contraceptives

Improper at-home care

Having dry socket in the past

Tooth or gum infection

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of dry socket may include:

• Severe pain within a few days after a tooth extraction
• Partial or total loss of the blood clot at the tooth extraction site, which you may notice as an empty-looking (dry) socket
• Visible bone in the socket
• Pain that radiates from the socket to your ear, eye, temple or neck on the same side of your face as the extraction
• Bad breath or a foul odor coming from your mouth
• Unpleasant taste in your mouth
• So it's important to seek dental care. If left untreated, this can lead to infection and other complications.
• Dry socket is treated by your dentist by flushing it thoroughly with saline, and then packing it with medicated paste or dressing.

 Dry socket, or alveolar osteitis, can last for up to 7 days or even more.

by,

Dr.Renju T George,

India.