Dental Pain (Post Extraction Dry Socket)

Dry socket results from a pathologic process combining loss of the healing blood clot with a localized inflammation (alveolar osteitis). It is most common with extraction of the mandibular molars. This condition may be encouraged by smoking, spitting or drinking through a straw, which create negative pressure in the oral cavity. Intractible pain usually responds to nerve block with long acting local anesthetics.