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

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.