Dear Christine,

Throbbing is not necessarily a part of healing per se, but frequently accompanies inflammation due to the pulsatile nature of the blood circulating through small arteriolar blood vessels in the inflamed part. The presence of throbbing is therefore consistent with what one would normally expect following an extraction.

A dry socket is technically referred to as a "localized alveolar osteitis". Although the name derives from the historical belief that the loss of a clot causes drying of the bone and therefore pain, the true mechanism of dry socket is unknown. Dry socket occurs in about 10-20% of extractions; it's about twice as common in the lower jaw than in the upper jaw. It is a very uncomfortable but otherwise benign condition that invariably heals with time-- usually within 10 days to two weeks after the surgical intervention. Treatment is supportive and symptomatic-- with oral pain medication, and sometimes with the use of chemical dressings placed directly in the socket. Although dressing the socket can give dramatic relief, it can actually delay healing somewhat, and the dressing needs to be changed every two or three days to remain effective. As I said, the use of a dressing in the socket is optional; dry socket will heal regardless of how it's treated...

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Mark Bornfeld DDS