Oral Surgery · single question
A patient has pain 10 days after extraction of a mandibular molar, with a clinically empty socket showing exposed bone (alveolar osteitis / 'dry socket'). Which nerve is responsible for the pain?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Inferior alveolar nerve
In dry socket, loss of the blood clot exposes bone within the socket walls, irritating terminal sensory branches of the inferior alveolar nerve that run through the alveolar bone — producing the characteristic severe, dull, radiating pain.