What is a Dry Socket? A "dry socket" occurs when the blood clot is lost from an extraction site prematurely. Basically, the blood clot in the socket serves two functions: it helps stop bleeding and it protects the underlying structures during the healing process. When the blood clot is lost before the underlying structures have had time to heal, bone is exposed to the oral environment along with fine nerve endings. This can be a painful but otherwise relatively harmless situation. There are dressing materials which the oral surgeon can place to help ease the discomfort both by physically protecting the wound and by the action of medicine in the dressing(s). Generally, patients return to have the dressing(s) changed every two to three days and most patients do not require more than two or three dressing changes. Some patients require no dressings while others may require four or five dressing changes. Time and good oral hygiene usually resolve the situation. There are some activities which may increase the chances of forming a "dry socket"…smoking, spitting, drinking through a straw,…but often "dry sockets" occur for no particular reason at all. On rare occasions, swelling and pain may occur at the tooth extraction site 2-6 weeks after surgery. These symptoms represent the development of an infection which may require drainage an/or antibiotics to treat. [Home] [Meet the Doctors] [Home Care] [Home Care (cont.)] [Home Care (cont.)] 1107 Hazeltine Blvd, Suite 532; 952-856-4100 6545 France Ave. S, Suite 690; 952-925-2525 2855 Campus Drive, Suite 670; 763-520-1234 dr@metro-oms.com