Material and Methods: A total of 500 teeth were extracted from patients attending the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery due to various reasons. Patients received chemo or radiotherapy, syndromic patients and pregnant women were excluded from the study. Age, gender, medical history, location of tooth, difficulty of extraction and the presence of smoking habit were reported. After the extraction, the extraction sockets were irrigated with 20cc of normal saline. All patients were followed up after extraction for one week and instructed to visit the department when they develop any signs or symptoms of discomfort related to the extraction site. Patients who developed alveolar osteitis were diagnosed according to the conventional sign and symptoms of dry socket and managed in the standard way.

Results: The total number of dry socket reported in this current study was 4 (0.8%) cases, 3 of the cases were females and one case of dry socket was reported in male. All these cases were related to extractions in the mandible.

Conclusion: Excessive post extraction socket irrigation with saline is not related to the development of dry socket.