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Oral Surgery · single question

A patient develops a dry socket (alveolar osteitis) after an extraction. Which combination most increased the risk?

  1. Smoking and oral contraceptive use
  2. High dietary calcium intake
  3. Pre-operative chlorhexidine rinsing
  4. An atraumatic surgical technique
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. Smoking and oral contraceptive use

  • A. Correct. Smoking (suction, heat, and reduced perfusion) and estrogen in contraceptives (increased fibrinolysis) both promote loss/breakdown of the clot.
  • B. Incorrect. Dietary calcium is not a recognized dry-socket risk factor.
  • C. Incorrect. Chlorhexidine actually REDUCES dry-socket risk.
  • D. Incorrect. Atraumatic technique lowers, not raises, the risk.

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