Clinical Characteristics and Treatment of Dry Socket – a Study

The objective of this study was to evaluate and analyze clinical characteristics and treatment outcome in dry socket patients. This study was undertaken on 90 patients having the clinical features of dry socket, at the private clinic of the author at Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, from Jan 2008 to Mar 2011. Data regarding the age, gender, site of dry socket, time lapsed from extraction until diagnosis and treatment outcome was evaluated and reviewed. The age ranged from 1769 years with a mean value 34.3 years, with high frequency occurring in 4th decade. The male to female ratio was 1.12: 1. Sixty six patients presented dry socket in mandible, while 24 in maxilla. Dry socket was more common at 3rd molar in mandible and 1st molar in maxilla. Twenty six patients presented with dry sockets after three days. Surgical intervention was successful in all cases without any major complication.