Prevention
True alveolar osteitis, as opposed to simple postoperative pain, occurs in only about 1–3% of extractions. No one knows for certain how or why dry sockets develop following dental extraction but certain factors are associated with increased risk. One of these factors is the complexity of the extraction. Smoking may be a contributing factor, possibly due to the decreased amount of oxygen available in the healing tissues. It is advisable to avoid smoking for at least 48 hours following tooth extraction to reduce the risk of developing dry socket.
Women are generally at higher risk than men of developing alveolar osteitis, because estrogen slows down healing. Dentists recommend that their female patients have extractions performed during the last week of their menstrual cycle, when estrogen levels are lowest, to minimize chances of developing alveolar osteitis.
Read more about this topic: Alveolar Osteitis
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