A particular patient’s risk of developing dry socket following a given tooth extraction can often be deduced by evaluating the risk factors. These may include:

• Extraction of lower teeth. Dry socket is more likely to occur following the extraction of teeth on the lower jaw than the upper jaw.
  
  
• Extraction of wisdom teeth. Dry socket is most common following the extraction of wisdom teeth, especially if they are impacted and/or located on the lower jaw.
  
  
• Difficult tooth extractions. Extractions that are particularly difficult or cause increased trauma or other damage to the immediate area are more likely to result in dry socket. For example, if a tooth fractures during extraction, the patient has a higher risk of dry socket.
  
  
• Dental hygiene and health. Dry socket is more common in patients with poor oral hygiene, especially if there is a buildup of plaque and tartar at the time of the extraction or active or recent gingivitis or other forms of infection. The risk is considerably less when healthy teeth are extracted.
  
  
• Dental and medical history. Patients with a history of dry socket are more likely to experience another episode of dry socket following subsequent tooth extractions. People with increased bone density, such as those with certain medical conditions (e.g., Paget’s disease) are also more likely to experience dry socket. The complication is also more common in patients with medical conditions such as diabetes.
  
  
• Gender. Dry socket is more common in women than men, especially in women using oral contraceptives. The degree of risk varies during particular phases of the menstrual cycle. This is apparently due to elevated amounts of certain female hormones.
  
  
• Smoking. People who smoke also have an increased risk of developing dry socket. Tobacco contains many chemicals that interfere with normal healing and contaminate the tooth socket. Smoking on the day of surgery significantly increases the risk of dry socket, although smoking on the second and third day after surgery also increases the risk. How much a person smokes is also a factor, with heavy smokers having a higher risk than people who smoke infrequently. The method of smoking is not an influence. Women who smoke and take oral contraceptives are even more likely to develop dry socket.