Abstract

Alveolar osteitis (AO) is the most common postoperative complication following tooth extraction and remains a significant clinical problem due to severe pain and delayed healing. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the incidence of AO and analyze demographic, clinical, and procedural factors associated with its development in patients treated at a university-based oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic. Archival records of 35,266 tooth extractions performed between January 1, 2023, and July 11, 2025, were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 375 AO cases were identified and included in the analysis. Data regarding patient age, sex, systemic diseases, extraction region, number of extracted teeth, postoperative presentation time, smoking status, and seasonal distribution were recorded. AO cases were categorized into predefined groups, and statistical analyses were performed using chi-square tests, with the significance level set at p

Key words: Alveolar osteitis, dry socket, tooth extraction