Back

Dry Sockets

Dry socket, the most common postoperative complication from tooth extractions, delays the normal healing process and results when the newly formed blood clot in the extraction site does not form correctly or is prematurely lost. The blood clot lays the foundation for new tissue and bone to develop over a two-month healing process. Women who take oral contraceptives are at a higher risk of developing dry socket after wisdom teeth extraction due to high levels of estrogen.

Tips for preventing dry socket

• Schedule extractions during the last week of the menstrual cycle, when estrogen levels are lower.
• Avoid drinking through a straw, as the suction may interfere with clotting.
• Avoid smoking, which can irritate the extraction site.
• Avoid excessive mouth rinsing, which may interfere with clotting.