Alveolar osteitis

In dentistry, a dry socket occurs when the blood clot at the site of a tooth extraction is disrupted prematurely. This leaves the jawbone open to air. If the bone becomes infected with bacteria, a dry socket can develop.

A dry socket can come from smoking after the extraction, normally 24-36 hours. They can also be caused by little bits of food that lodge themselves in the empty sockets. Dry sockets also can occur without an obvious cause at times.

A symptom is the onslaught of potentially extreme pain possibly 3 to 4 days after the procedure. It is also often accompanied by a strange taste in the mouth and possibly a foul stench.