Abdullah Alburayk, Mohammed Bindakhil, Abdulrahman Alkhunaizan, Fasial Alghamdi,
Saeed Alshahrani, Zuhair Moosa

ABSTRACT

Aim: To investigate the incidence of dry socket and its correlation to systemic factor in Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This retrospective study carried out in the dental clinics of Riyadh Elm University and on patients who had extractions of their tooth/teeth from December 2016 to November 2017. The following data and were recorded and analyzed : total number of permanent teeth extracted, total number of patients of dry sockets encountered, and type of extraction and associated risk factors such as contraception and systemic illnesses. Results: Of the 2370 number of teeth extracted, 39 (1.7%) extractions were complicated by dry socket. Most of dry socket cases occurred among female patients (n=22, 56.4%) and in the mandibular teeth extraction (n=24, 61.5%). The mandibular first molar (n=12, 30.8%) had highest incidence of dry socket occurrence. Advanced dental caries was the reason for extractions of most (n=34, 87.2%) of cases of dry socket. The majority of the cases affected dry sockets were irrigated with normal saline and Alvogyl packing were used on (n=27, 69.2%). Conclusion: The prevalence of dry socket after tooth extraction in Riyadh Elm University dental clinics was 1.7%. Atraumatic techniques, aseptic procedures, surgeon’s skills, and good oral hygiene can lower the prevalence of dry socket.