Short Description
A painful condition after tooth extraction where the blood clot dislodges, exposing bone and nerves.
Long Description
Dry socket, or alveolar osteitis, is a painful post-extraction complication that occurs when the blood clot at the site of a pulled tooth either fails to form or is dislodged prematurely. Without the clot, the bone and nerves underneath are exposed.
Symptoms typically begin a few days after the extraction and may include intense, throbbing pain, bad breath, and an unpleasant taste. The pain may radiate to the ear, eye, or neck on the same side of the extraction.
Treatment involves gently flushing the socket, placing a medicated dressing, and managing pain. Avoiding smoking, using straws, or spitting after extraction can reduce the risk. Healing usually resumes once the area is properly treated.