Is Dry Socket an infection & its healing mechanism? - Dr. Aarthi Shankar

Dry socket is not an infection it occurs predominantly due to dislodgment of the tooth from the socket. This happens when the instructions given post extraction will not be followed like spitting rinsing, forcibly gargling the mouth, usage of straw for drinking beverages and smoking following the extraction. The infection from a dry socket can be from a tooth infection or gum infection previous from the extraction. Dry socket as such is not an infection. So to control the dry socket infection, the antibiotics and pain killers are given. Dry socket healing will take usually some time. Since the blood clot dislodged, it takes its own time. So the healing has to be assisted. In cases of dry socket, the dentist will clean the socket with an antiseptic solution and place packs containing clove oil, these packs are replaced every 2 days once, slowly over a period of time the healing will happen. Usually it will take about 10 days or more.