Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the effect of application of 0.2% chlorhexidine
gel, a eugenol-based paste, together with a control group on the postoperative incidence
of alveolar osteitis in patients having third molars extracted. A total of 270 patients
who had this procedure at the Dept of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Saveetha Dental
College and who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study and divided
into 3 groups: the first had a 0.2% chlorhexidine-based gel applied to the alveolar
socket once after extraction; the second had a eugenol-based paste applied to the
alveolar socket once after extraction; and the third group acted as controls, with
no treatment. The incidence of alveolar osteitis was recorded for 7 days. We also
recorded postoperative pain, inflammation, infection, and wound healing. Nine of the
control group (10%) and 2 (2%) of the chlorhexidine group developed alveolar osteitis
on the seventh postoperative day. The overall incidence (11/270) was 4%, which is
less than reported elsewhere. The distribution of alveolar osteitis among the 3 groups
was significant (p= 0.002), with the eugenol group having no cases. The chlorhexidine
group showed less incidence of alveolar osteitis than other reported studies and also
less pain, inflammation, infection, and better wound healing than the control group.
We conclude that eugenol was the better of the 2 interventions.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 15, 2015
Accepted:
June 21,
2015
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
