There are multiple reasons why an extraction socket may show delayed or non-healing. This paper offers an overview of the normal process of socket healing and reasons why this process may be disrupted. It aims to support primary care dental clinicians with identification of those at risk of issues, offers evidence-based guidance on safe practice and outlines strategies for managing a non-healing socket should it occur. CPD/Clinical Relevance: An awareness of the main stages of healing of a dental extraction socket, and how and why healing may be interrupted, is useful clinical information.
Williams et al. (2026) studied this question.