Dry Socket

Dry socket (alveolar osteitis) can happen after tooth extraction. When your dentist or oral surgeon removes a tooth, a blood clot forms in the socket (a hole in the bone where your tooth was). Dry socket happens when that blood clot dislodges (moves) or doesn’t form at all. Without the clot, your bone and nerves become exposed, leading to pain and slower healing.

How common is dry socket?

Dry socket occurs after 2% to 5% of tooth extractions. While dry socket can happen after the extraction of any tooth, it’s most likely to happen after wisdom teeth removal.