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Oral Surgery · single question

How is alveolar osteitis (dry socket) treated?

  1. Prescribe systemic antibiotics alone
  2. Gently irrigate the socket and place a medicated dressing
  3. Curette the socket aggressively to induce fresh bleeding, then prescribe antibiotics
  4. Re-suture the socket under local anesthesia
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Correct answer: B. Gently irrigate the socket and place a medicated dressing

  • A. Dry socket is NOT an infection — it is fibrinolysis of the clot. Antibiotics are not indicated unless there is genuine spreading infection.
  • B. CORRECT. Management is PALLIATIVE and aimed at pain control: gently irrigate with warm saline or chlorhexidine to remove debris, then place a sedative dressing (eugenol-based, often with benzocaine and balsam of Peru) and change it every 24–48 hours until symptoms subside. Systemic analgesics as needed. Healing is delayed but does occur.
  • C. AGGRESSIVE curettage is contraindicated — it destroys the healing granulation tissue, exposes more bone, and worsens the pain.
  • D. Suturing an open socket over exposed bone does not address the problem and traps debris.

Note: Risk factors: smoking, oral contraceptives, mandibular third molars, traumatic extraction, prior dry socket, and pre-existing pericoronitis.

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