Dental Pain, Postextraction Alveolar Osteitis : (Dry Socket, Septic Socket, Necrotic Socket, Localized Osteitis)

Presentation

Patients present with severe, dull, throbbing pain 2 to 4 days after a tooth extraction, usually a wisdom tooth in the lower jaw. The pain is often excruciating and continuous; may radiate to the ear, temple, or neck; and is not relieved by oral analgesics. There may be associated foul taste and odor (halitosis). There may also be localized swelling and lymph node involvement. The extraction blood clot is absent from the tooth socket, the bony walls of which are denuded and exquisitely sensitive to even gentle probing.

If untreated, the pain may last weeks to more than 1 month.