Randomized, double-blind study on effectiveness of intra-alveolar chlorhexidine gel in reducing the incidence of alveolar osteitis in mandibular third molar surgery

• Published in: International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery 2006-04, Vol.35 (4), p.348-351
• Main Authors: Torres-Lagares, D., Gutierrez-Perez, J.L., Infante-Cossio, P., Garcia-Calderon, M., Romero-Ruiz, M.M., Serrera-Figallo, M.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; alveolar osteitis; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - administration & dosage; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiseptics; Bacterial arthritis and osteitis; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; chlorhexidine; Chlorhexidine - administration & dosage; clinical trials; Dentistry; dry socket; Epidemiologic Methods; Facial bones, jaws, teeth, parodontium: diseases, semeiology; Female; Gels; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Molar, Third - surgery; Non tumoral diseases; Osteitis - prevention & control; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; third-molar extraction; Tooth Extraction - adverse effects; Tooth Socket - drug effects; Tooth, Impacted - surgery
• ISSN: 0901-5027; 1399-0020
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijom.2005.08.002

Chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash is a good prophylactic agent for postextraction alveolar osteitis (AO), a very common complication. Recently, a bio-adhesive gel to deliver the active substance, CHX, has been introduced. The intra-alveolar positioning of the bio-adhesive gel allows more direct and prolonged action of CHX, which could be useful in the prevention of AO following extraction of impacted third molars. Presented here is a double-blind, randomised and parallel-group study evaluating the efficacy of the bio-adhesive 0.2% CHX gel ( n = 53) applied once within the alveolus during third molar surgery, compared to placebo gel only ( n = 50), in reducing the incidence of impacted third-molar postextraction AO. A 63.33% reduction in the occurrence of AO ( P = 0.019) was observed in the experimental group. In the control group, the occurrence of AO was 30% compared to 11% in the experimental group. Bio-adhesive 0.2% CHX gel, applied only once within the alveolus site at the time of surgery, may reduce the incidence of AO following removal of impacted third molars.