Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at the Yazd dental clinics (may 2010-Jun2010).out of 4779patients ,those having their teeth extracted and returned with dry socket were chosen. Characteristics such as:age ,sex,site of extraction,extracted tooth,trauma during extraction,oral hygiene,smoking ,systemic disease,menstrual cycle,history of dental infection and OCP were determined and data were analyzed by descriptive analysis.
Results: Over the two-month period of study,among of 4779 total patient,28 patient returned with dry socket.our result showed that the incidence of dry socket was 0.6%,females were more often involved than males(0.08%versus0.04%).the ratio of mandible to maxilla was 2.5to1.and mandibular third molars were more often involved than other areas.trauma,poor oral hygiene and smoking increased the incidence of dry socket.
Conclusions: Prevalence of dry socket after tooth extraction in Yazd dental clinics was slightly lower than the overall prevalence reported in literature. That may attributed to the racial and geographical difference.