How long after removal of your wisdom teeth does a dry socket appear?

3-5 days: It usually starts about 3-5 days after surgery. You have normal amount of post operative pain which begins to decrease and then develop more intense pain. This is a dry socket or alveolar osteitis which means the blood clot in the socket has broken down before adequate tissue has grown to cover the socket bone. If you have one a simple dressing with numbing medication will relieve your pain.

Dry Socket: If you have gone 5 days since your extraction without developing symptoms, you are probably OK. If you have any concerns, return to the Dentist or Oral Surgeon that did the procedure for reevaluation.