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Oral Surgery · single question

All of the following about dry socket (alveolar osteitis) are TRUE, EXCEPT:

  1. Treatment involves irrigation and medicated dressing placement
  2. It is always easy to identify a specific cause
  3. Smoking is a significant risk factor
  4. It results from premature lysis of the blood clot
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Correct answer: B. It is always easy to identify a specific cause

  • A. Incorrect — this IS true. Treatment: irrigate with saline/chlorhexidine + place medicated (eugenol-based) dressing (e.g., Alvogyl) for pain control.
  • B. Correct — NOT true. The EXACT etiology is often MULTIFACTORIAL and not easily identified in individual cases. Risk factors include smoking, estrogen, trauma, poor hygiene — but pinpointing the exact cause is frequently impossible.
  • C. Incorrect — this IS true. Smoking is one of the strongest modifiable risk factors for dry socket.
  • D. Incorrect — this IS true. Dry socket results from fibrinolysis or clot failure, leaving bare bone exposed.

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