Oral Health and Dental Management

Abstract

Comparison of different regimens for the prevention of alveolar osteitis

Alveolar osteitis is an important postoperative problem that is especially prevalent after the removal of mandibular third molars. Many methods have been sought to prevent or to manage this complication. In this study we compared effects of different regimens for the prevention of alveolar osteitis. For this purpose five groups - a chlorhexidine solution alone group, a chlorhexidine and antibiotic combination group, a sterile saline group, a sterile saline and antibiotic combination group and an antibiotic alone group - were formed after the extraction of mandibular third molars. The results of this study showed that there was a significant reduction in the incidence of alveolar osteitis when chlorhexidine was used in combination with an antibiotic. We concluded that it is more beneficial to use chlorhexidine solution with a ß-lactamase containing antibiotic to decrease the risk of alveolar osteitis.