What is Dry Socket? Causes, Pictures, & Treatment

What is a Dry Socket?A dry socket (alveolar osteitis) is a complication that can occur after a tooth extraction, particularly wisdom teeth. This condition arises when the exposed bone underneath the extraction site gets inflamed.Typically, a blood clot forms in the socket⁠—the space in the jawbone where the tooth was⁠—to aid healing by protecting the underlying bone and nerves. However, if this clot dislodges or doesn’t develop, it leads to a dry socket.Dry socket is relatively uncommon, occurring in 1 to 5% of tooth extractions.1 However, it’s more frequent in wisdom tooth removals, affecting up to 38% of cases.1 It is most likely to develop in:The lower jawPeople older than 30 yearsFemalesInfected teeth prior to surgeryWhat Does a Dry Socket Look Like?A dry socket appears as a hole where the tooth was removed. You’ll see the bone that once surrounded the extracted tooth. The empty tooth socket where the tooth was pulled may appear dry or have a whitish, bone-like color.Food debris or...