Oral Surgery
Blood clot (socket clot)
A socket clot is the blood clot that forms in the hole left by an extracted tooth. It protects the bone and nerves while the site recovers.
After a tooth is taken out, the socket fills with a blood clot. MouthHealthy says your mouth slowly fills in bone where the tooth root was, through the formation of a blood clot. MedlinePlus says the clot fills the socket as the bone grows back in.
The clot is important. If it comes loose, bone and nerves can be exposed, which causes the painful condition called dry socket. AAOMS warns that aggressive sucking through a straw can loosen blood clots. Do not smoke, spit, or rinse hard in the first days.
If pain gets worse several days after an extraction, call your dentist. Treatment may include cleaning the site and placing a medicated dressing. See post-operative instructions, gauze pressure, and tooth extraction.
Related terms
- Dry socket (alveolar osteitis)
- Post-operative instructions
- Gauze pressure
- Sutures (stitches)
- Tooth socket