A double-blind randomized study evaluating the effect of intra-alveolar chlorhexidine gel on alveolar osteitis after removal of mandibular third molars.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The main purpose of the present investigation was to determine whether intra-alveolar chlorhexidine (CHX) gel is an effective preventative treatment for alveolar osteitis (AO), as has been strongly suggested by previous investigators. Another goal was to evaluate whether there is a correlation between the use of analgesics during the postoperative week and the development of AO, a correlation that could be a supplement to the commonly used diagnostic criteria for AO.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A double-blinded randomized study was performed to assess whether intra-alveolar administration of CHX decreases AO. To achieve this objective, the extraction and postoperative course of 100 impacted mandibular third molars were studied. Ninety-seven percent of teeth operated on had a diagnosed pathology. The extraction alveoli were treated with CHX or placebo. The intake of analgesics was recorded for 7 days after the operation.

RESULTS:

Statistically important differences in AO between the control and experimental groups were not found. The intake of analgesics reflected the occurrence of AO with a high degree of importance.

CONCLUSION:

The present study did not verify that application of CHX gel improves healing after removal of impacted third molars. The patients' postoperative analgesic intake reflected the development of AO.

• Authors: Nelly Freudenthal, Mika Sternudd, Leif Jansson, Karin Wannfors
• Journal: Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery : official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (J Oral Maxillofac Surg) Vol. 73 Issue 4 Pg. 600-5 (Apr 2015) ISSN: 1531-5053 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25622882 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Anti-Infective Agents, Local
• Drug Combinations
• Gels
• Placebos
• acetaminophen, codeine drug combination
• Acetaminophen
• Chlorhexidine
• Codeine

Topics

• Acetaminophen (therapeutic use)
• Adult
• Aged
• Analgesics (therapeutic use)
• Anatomic Variation
• Anti-Infective Agents, Local (therapeutic use)
• Chlorhexidine (therapeutic use)
• Codeine (therapeutic use)
• Dental Caries (surgery)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Combinations
• Dry Socket (prevention & control)
• Female
• Gels
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Molar, Third (pathology, surgery)
• Operative Time
• Pericoronitis (surgery)
• Periodontal Diseases (surgery)
• Placebos
• Surgical Flaps (surgery)
• Tooth Extraction
• Tooth Socket (drug effects)
• Tooth, Impacted (pathology, surgery)
• Young Adult