Abstract

Dry socket, also termed fibrinolytic osteitis or alveolar osteitis, is a complication of tooth exodontia. A dry socket lesion is a post-extraction socket thatexhibits exposed bone that is not covered by a blood clot or healing epithelium and exists inside or around the perimeter of the socket or alveolus fordays after the extraction procedure. This article describes dry socket lesions; reviews the basic clinical techniques of treating different manifestations ofdry socket lesions; and shows how microscope level loupe magnification of 6× to 8× or greater, combined with co-axial illumination or a dental operatingmicroscope, facilitate more precise treatment of dry socket lesions. The author examines the scientific validity of the proposed causes of dry socketlesions (such as bacteria, inflammation, fibrinolysis, or traumatic extractions) and the scientific validity of different terminologies used to describe drysocket lesions. This article also presents an alternative model of what causes dry socket lesions, based on evidence from dental literature. Although theclinical techniques for treating dry socket lesions seem empirically correct, more evidence is required to determine the causes of dry socket lesions.