Who is most affected by dry socket?

Dry socket, a painful but temporary condition that can occur after you have a tooth extracted, is more common in people with diabetes, smokers, and women who take birth control pills. When you have a tooth extracted, a blood clot forms in the tooth socket  or hole, which is necessary for healing.

If the blood clot gets washed away or dislodged, the dry socket that remains can be extremely painful. If you follow your dentist’s instructions carefully after having a tooth removed, your risk of getting dry socket is very low. Dry socket affects between 3% and 5% of people who have undergone a tooth extraction. See your dentist if you develop dry socket.

The people who are most often affected by dry socket include those with diabetes, those who smoke, and women who take oral contraceptives. People who have impacted wisdom teeth are likely to get dry socket, as well as people who do not follow home-care instructions or care for the extraction site as instructed.