Evaluation of Quality of Life and Related Factors in Dry Socket (Alveolar Osteitis) Cases: A Cross-Sectional Clinical Study

Objective: Dry socket (alveolar osteitis) is an annoying condition for patients with symptoms such as severe pain after tooth extraction, bad odor/taste in the mouth, and difficulty in eating. This study aims to examine the quality of life and related factors in patients diagnosed with dry socket after tooth extraction. Material and Methods: In this observational clinical study, 151 cases diagnosed with dry socket in a university hospital's oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic were included. The patients' pain and jaw function levels were evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS). The quality of life was asseses using Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire. Results: 151 cases (55 men, 96 women) aged between 19 and 84 years (mean age: 41.74±12.42) diagnosed with alveolar osteitis were included in the study. The mean OHIP-14 score of all participants was 20.38. More than half of the dry socket cases (55%) were seen in the mandibular molar region, and the quality of life in dry socket cases developing in this region was worse than the others. A positive correlation was seen between the patients' VAS pain level and OHIP-14 scores, and a negative correlation was seen between VAS-function levels and OHIP-14 scores. Conclusion: In dry socket cases, as the pain level increases and the function level decreases, the patients' quality of life worsens. Clinicians should consider patients' quality of life along with clinical findings in the diagnosis and treatment of dry socket.