Incidence of dry socket in surgical removal of impacted third molar.

In a search for dry socket five hundred and thirty six (536) impacted third molars were surgically removed among 435 patients. Each patient was examined clinically and radiographically before surgery. 108 impacted teeth were removed for prophylactic and 428 for therapeutic reasons. A standard operating procedure was performed for each case and pre-operative and post-operative regimens was employed. After surgery each case was followed to determine the absence or presence of signs and symptoms of dry socket. It was found that total incidence of alveolar osteitis (dry socket) was 10.26%.