MOLAR EXTRACTION

EFFECT OF CHLORHEXIDINE GEL APPLICATION TO PREVENT DRY SOCKET AFTER MANDIBULAR 3RD MOLAR EXTRACTION

Abstract

Introduction: Dry socket (DS) or Alveolar osteitis (AO) is a common post
extraction complication in third molar removal. Various techniques have been used to reduce
the risk of DS. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of Chlorhexidine (CHX) gel in preventing the
development of DS. Study Design: Randomized double blind case-control study. Setting: Oral
and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of University College of Dentistry
(UCD), The University
of Lahore, Pakistan. Period: July 2017 to December 2017. Methodology: Patients having
impacted mandibular 3rd molars selected for surgical extraction. Randomly selected one group
consisted of 30 patients received CHX gel and the other group again of 30 patients considered
as the control. The outcome variable was formation of DS and the predictor variable was CHX
gel application. Data were processed using chi-square test with the confidence interval of
95%. Results: 60 cases (39 females and 21 males) with average age of 22 years ± 5 years
underwent 3rd molar extractions. Total 09 sockets (15%) developed DS. The frequency of DS in
CHX gel (2 cases, 6.7%) was significantly lower than control (7 cases, 23.3%) (P-value < 0.05).
Conclusion: CHX gel can reduce the risk of development of DS after mandibular 3rd molar
surgical extraction.