What is the best practice to follow after a dental extraction if the socket becomes dry?

When a dental socket becomes dry, commonly referred to as a dry socket or alveolar osteitis, the best practice is to apply a medicated dressing. This approach helps to protect the exposed bone and nerve endings in the socket, alleviating pain and promoting healing.

The medicated dressing often contains analgesics and other agents that soothe the area, provide comfort, and reduce the risk of further complications. It creates a barrier that can help prevent infection and facilitate the formation of new tissue, which is critical for proper healing.

In contrast, leaving the socket untreated can lead to continued pain and potential complications since the exposed bone is susceptible to infection and irritation. Prescribing oral antibiotics might be indicated in cases of infection but is not a primary treatment for a dry socket unless there is clear evidence of infection. Closing the socket with sutures is generally not a practice recommended for handling dry sockets, as proper healing relies on a well-formed blood clot and granulation tissue rather than sutures.

Thus, applying a medicated dressing stands out as the most effective method for managing a dry socket following dental extraction.