Dry socket is a painful healing complication after a tooth extraction when the blood clot disintegrates or is lost before the socket is protected by new tissue.
**Common questions**
*What is it?* A painful but usually non-serious condition caused by loss of the blood clot from an extraction site.
*Is it common?* It occurs in a minority of extractions.
*Do antibiotics fix it?* Usually not; treatment is mainly local pain relief and socket care.
*Can smoking or rinsing contribute?* Yes, both may disturb the clot and increase risk.
**When to contact us**
- Increasing pain 2 to 5 days after extraction
- Bad taste or smell from the area
- Pain radiating to ear or jaw
**S3 Dental advice:** Call S3 Dental urgently if post-extraction pain is worsening rather than settling.