What is the rate of incidence for dry socket?

How often dry socket occurs depends on the type of tooth extraction. Dry socket occurs in about 3% to 4% of all extractions, including simple extractions (in which the tooth had pushed through the gum and was visible in the mouth). When the tooth is impacted (mostly or entirely under the gum), as wisdom teeth usually are, dry socket occurs up to 30% of the time.

Dry socket is a problem that affects 3 to 5% of people who have a tooth extracted. The people who get 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.