title: Straws do not cause dry sockets when third molars are extracted.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide evidence in contrast to a widely held belief that the dry socket, ie Alveolar Osteitis (AO), is primarily a biological process and not a mechanical disruption or removal of the clot due to suction from utilizing a straw in the postoperative period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty randomly selected patients had all 4 third molars extracted. One half of the patients were given straws to use with all meals for 2 days after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two-hundred-twenty teeth were extracted. No dry socket occurred in the maxilla, 17 occurred in the mandible; 8 or 15% who had used a straw and 9 or 15% who did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no evidence that there is an increased incidence of dry sockets when using a straw in the first 2 days after third molars have been extracted.
authors.affiliation: oralsurg@oralsurg.net
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bloomer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003297:Cooking and Eating Utensils; D004326:Drinking; D004368:Dry Socket / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D012907:Smoking; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D009067:Mouthwashes; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine