Chlorhexidine for prevention of alveolar osteitis: a randomised clinical trial

The Use of Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) in the Management of Dry Socket: A Systematic Review

Dry socket or alveolar osteitis is a common postoperative complication following tooth extraction, characterized by severe pain due to the disintegration of the blood clot within the socket. Various factors contribute to its development, such as traumatic extraction, patient age and sex, smoking, and anesthetic use. To mitigate this condition, socket preservation techniques, including the use of bone substitute materials, have been employed. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) has emerged as a promising biomaterial, enhancing healing and reducing the incidence of dry socket. Materials and Methods: This systematic review, adhering to the PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD 578018), examines the efficacy of PRF in managing dry socket by analyzing studies from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science published between January 2013 and May 2024. Boolean keywords have been used in the search strategy: ("Treatment") AND ("Dry Socket") AND ("Platelet Rich Fibrin" OR "PRF"). A total of 738 publications were found using the electronic database search. After the screening phase, 13 records were chosen for qualitative analysis. The results from multiple clinical trials and comparative studies indicate that PRF significantly reduces postoperative pain, expedites healing, and lowers the incidence of Alveolar Osteitis. Despite promising results, further large-scale, randomized studies are needed to validate PRF as a standard treatment for dry socket.

Hyaluronic acid in tooth extraction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical and clinical trials

OBJECTIVES

To assess whether in animals or patients with ≥ 1 tooth extracted, hyaluronic acid (HyA) application results in superior healing and/or improved complication management compared to any other treatment or no treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three databases were searched until April 2022. The most relevant eligibility criteria were (1) local application of HyA as adjunct to tooth extraction or as treatment of alveolar osteitis, and (2) reporting of clinical, radiographic, histological, or patient-reported data. New bone formation and/or quality were considered main outcome parameters in preclinical studies, while pain, swelling, and trismus were defined as main outcome parameters in clinical studies.

RESULTS

Five preclinical and 22 clinical studies (1062 patients at final evaluation) were included. In preclinical trials, HyA was applied into the extraction socket. Although a positive effect of HyA was seen in all individual studies on bone formation, this effect was not confirmed by meta-analysis. In clinical studies, HyA was applied into the extraction socket or used as spray or mouthwash. HyA application after non-surgical extraction of normally erupted teeth may have a positive effect on soft tissue healing. Based on meta-analyses, HyA application after surgical removal of lower third molars (LM3) resulted in significant reduction in pain perception 7 days postoperatively compared to either no additional wound manipulation or the application of a placebo/carrier. Early post-operative pain, trismus, and extent of swelling were unaffected.

CONCLUSIONS

HyA application may have a positive effect in pain reduction after LM3 removal, but not after extraction of normally erupted teeth.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

HyA application may have a positive effect in pain reduction after surgical LM3 removal, but it does not seem to have any impact on other complications or after extraction of normally erupted teeth. Furthermore, it seems not to reduce post-extraction alveolar ridge modeling, even though preclinical studies show enhanced bone formation.

Prophylactic therapy for prevention of surgical site infection after extraction of third molar: An overview of reviews

BACKGROUND

To compare the effect of different prophylactic therapies on prevention of surgical site infection after extraction of third molars with different degree of impaction.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses evaluating the effect of different prophylactic therapies on prevention of surgical site infection after extraction of third molars were included. An electronic search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic reviews. AMSTAR 2 tool was used to evaluate the confidence in results from the included reviews. Descriptive analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Six reviews were included. A significant benefit of different antibiotics to the prevention of site infection after extraction of third molars was reported. Amoxicillin/amoxicillin clavulanic acid could significantly reduce the rate of surgical site infection versus placebo. Chlorhexidine gel could significantly reduce the frequency of alveolar osteitis versus placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the limited evidence, there is a significant benefit of prophylactic therapy while the comparative effect of different types of prophylactic regimes are controversial.

Efficacy of Chlorhexidine after Oral Surgery Procedures on Wound Healing: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Our objective was to evaluate qualitatively and quantitatively, through a systematic review and meta-analysis, available evidence on the efficacy of chlorhexidine (CHX) when applied after oral surgery on wound healing and related clinical parameters. MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for studies published before January 2023. The quality of the methodology used in primary-level studies was assessed using the RoB2 tool; meta-analyses were performed jointly with heterogeneity and small-study effect analyses. Thirty-three studies and 4766 cases were included. The results point out that the application of CHX was significantly more effective, compared to controls where CHX was not employed, providing better wound healing after oral surgery (RR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.55-0.80, p < 0.001). Stratified meta-analyses confirmed the higher efficacy of 0.20% CHX gel vs. other vehicles and concentrations (p < 0.001, respectively). Likewise, the addition of chitosan to CHX significantly increased the efficacy of surgical wound healing (p < 0.001). The use of CHX has also been significantly beneficial in the prevention of alveolar osteitis after any type of dental extraction (RR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.39-0.53, p < 0.001) and has also been effective when applied as a gel for a reduction in pain after the surgical extraction of third molars (MD = -0.97, 95% CI = -1.26 to -0.68, p < 0.001). In conclusion, this systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrate on the basis of evidence that the application of CHX exerts a beneficial effect on wound healing after oral surgical procedures, significantly decreasing the patient's risk of developing surgical complications and/or poor wound healing. This benefit was greater when CHX was used at 0.20% in gel form with the addition of chitosan.

Effect of combined boric acid and chlorhexidine mouthwashes on postoperative complications and periodontal healing after impacted third molar surgery: a-double blind randomized study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of boric acid (BA) combined with chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash on postoperative complications and periodontal healing following impacted third molar surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 80 patients were randomly divided into eight groups. The patients in the study groups received different concentrations of BA ranging from 0.1% to 2.5% combined with CHX or 2% BA mouthwash alone. The control group received CHX mouthwash alone. The scores of self-reported pain and jaw dysfunction, trismus, edema, number of analgesics used, and periodontal parameters were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

2.5% BA + CHX group had significantly lower pain and facial swelling values during the follow-up period. 2% BA + CHX group reported significantly lower jaw dysfunction scores on the fourth and fifth postoperative days. The control group showed significantly higher values for pain, jaw dysfunction, and facial swelling than other groups. No significant differences were found between the groups regarding trismus, analgesic use, and periodontal variables.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of higher concentrations of BA with CHX was more effective in reducing pain, jaw dysfunction, and swelling following impacted third molar surgery than CHX mouthwash alone.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The combination of BA and CHX showed better results than the gold standard CHX mouthwash in reducing postoperative complications related to surgical removal of impacted third molars without any adverse effects. This new combination can be an effective alternative to traditional mouthwashes after impacted third molar surgery to ensure oral hygiene.

Local interventions for the management of alveolar osteitis (dry socket)

BACKGROUND

Alveolar osteitis (dry socket) is a complication of dental extractions more often involving mandibular molar teeth. It is associated with severe pain developing 2 to 3 days postoperatively with or without halitosis, a socket that may be partially or totally devoid of a blood clot, and increased postoperative visits. This is an update of the Cochrane Review first published in 2012.  OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of local interventions used for the prevention and treatment of alveolar osteitis (dry socket) following tooth extraction.

SEARCH METHODS

An Information Specialist searched four bibliographic databases up to 28 September 2021 and used additional search methods to identify published, unpublished, and ongoing studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials of adults over 18 years of age who were having permanent teeth extracted or who had developed dry socket postextraction. We included studies with any type of local intervention used for the prevention or treatment of dry socket, compared to a different local intervention, placebo or no treatment. We excluded studies reporting on systemic use of antibiotics or the use of surgical techniques because these interventions are evaluated in separate Cochrane Reviews.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. We followed Cochrane statistical guidelines and reported dichotomous outcomes as risk ratios (RR) and calculated 95% confidence intervals (CI) using random-effects models. For some of the split-mouth studies with sparse data, it was not possible to calculate RR so we calculated the exact odds ratio (OR) instead. We used GRADE to assess the certainty of the body of evidence.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 49 trials with 6771 participants; 39 trials (with 6219 participants) investigated prevention of dry socket and 10 studies (with 552 participants) looked at the treatment of dry socket. 16 studies were at high risk of bias, 30 studies at unclear risk of bias, and 3 studies at low risk of bias. Chlorhexidine in the prevention of dry socket When compared to placebo, rinsing with chlorhexidine mouthrinses (0.12% and 0.2% concentrations) both before and 24 hours after extraction(s) substantially reduced the risk of developing dry socket with an OR of 0.38 (95% CI 0.25 to 0.58; P < 0.00001; 6 trials, 1547 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). The prevalence of dry socket varies from 1% to 5% in routine dental extractions to upwards of 30% in surgically extracted third molars. The number of patients needed to be treated (NNT) with chlorhexidine rinse to prevent one patient having dry socket was 162 (95% CI 155 to 240), 33 (95% CI 27 to 49), and 7 (95% CI 5 to 10) for control prevalence of dry socket 0.01, 0.05, and 0.30 respectively.  Compared to placebo, placing chlorhexidine gel intrasocket after extractions reduced the odds of developing a dry socket by 58% with an OR of 0.44 (95% CI 0.27 to 0.71; P = 0.0008; 7 trials, 753 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). The NNT with chlorhexidine gel (0.2%) to prevent one patient developing dry socket was 180 (95% CI 137 to 347), 37 (95% CI 28 to 72), and 7 (95% CI 5 to 15) for control prevalence of dry socket of 0.01, 0.05, and 0.30 respectively. Compared to chlorhexidine rinse (0.12%), placing chlorhexidine gel (0.2%) intrasocket after extractions was not superior in reducing the risk of dry socket (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.20; P = 0.22; 2 trials, 383 participants; low-certainty evidence).  The present review found some evidence for the association of minor adverse reactions with use of 0.12%, 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthrinses (alteration in taste, staining of teeth, stomatitis) though most studies were not designed explicitly to detect the presence of hypersensitivity reactions to mouthwash as part of the study protocol. No adverse events were reported in relation to the use of 0.2% chlorhexidine gel placed directly into a socket. Platelet rich plasma in the prevention of dry socket  Compared to placebo, placing platelet rich plasma after extractions was not superior in reducing the risk of having a dry socket (RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.19 to 1.33; P = 0.17; 2 studies, 127 participants; very low-certainty evidence).  A further 21 intrasocket interventions to prevent dry socket were each evaluated in single studies, and there is insufficient evidence to determine their effects. Zinc oxide eugenol versus Alvogyl in the treatment of dry socket Two studies, with 80 participants, showed that Alvogyl (old formulation) is more effective than zinc oxide eugenol at reducing pain at day 7 (mean difference (MD) -1.40, 95% CI -1.75 to -1.04; P < 0.00001; 2 studies, 80 participants; very low-certainty evidence) A further nine interventions for the treatment of dry socket were evaluated in single studies, providing insufficient evidence to determine their effects.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Tooth extractions are generally undertaken by dentists for a variety of reasons, however, all but five studies included in the present review included participants undergoing extraction of third molars, most of which were undertaken by oral surgeons. There is moderate-certainty evidence that rinsing with chlorhexidine (0.12% and 0.2%) or placing chlorhexidine gel (0.2%) in the sockets of extracted teeth, probably results in a reduction in dry socket. There was insufficient evidence to determine the effects of the other 21 preventative interventions each evaluated in single studies. There was limited evidence of very low certainty that Alvogyl (old formulation) may reduce pain at day 7 in patients with dry socket when compared to zinc oxide eugenol.

The Effectiveness of 0.2% Chlorhexidine Gel on Early Wound Healing after Tooth Extraction: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective  This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX) gel on wound healing after tooth extraction.

Materials and Methods  A single blind, randomized controlled trial was performed recruiting 32 participants who underwent dental extractions. Patients were randomly allocated for CHX group or placebo group. The primary outcomes were wound closure measured with calipers and healings were assessed by Landry et al index after 7 days of topical application of allocated gels on extraction sites.

Results  The wound closures were greater in CHX group compared with placebo group and healing scores were correlated with the use of CHX gel ( p -value < 0.05).

Conclusion  In a population of healthy nonsmoker adults, application of 0.2% CHX gel twice a day for 7 days after tooth extraction has a beneficial effect on wound healing.

Hard and Soft Tissue Augmentation with Single-Implant Restoration in the Esthetic Zone

The removal of the central incisor of the upper jaw is a challenging process, since the restoration of a single implant in the esthetic zone is of great responsibility. When tooth extraction with immediate implant placement is not possible, modern protocols imply the use of the socket preservation technique. This method of preserving socket properties significantly reduces changes that occur during the healing process of the postextracted area and along with soft tissue augmentation allows to achieve a satisfying aesthetic result. The aim of present case report is to assess capabilities of socket preservation concept and application of soft tissue augmentation in the anterior maxillary region. The treatment steps of a 35-year-old woman who needed to remove tooth 11 with further dental implant placement are described. The clinical case is of interest because after socket preservation and soft tissue augmentation, an acceptable aesthetic result was not reached. However, additional soft tissue augmentation made it possible to achieve the desired result, which was stable for 7 years.

Aetiology, Prevention and Management of Alveolar Osteitis-A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Alveolar osteitis (AO) is a poorly understood, common, painful complication following exodontia. It is sometimes managed by inappropriate prescription of antibiotics which contributes to the global threat of antimicrobial resistance. Use of intra-alveolar chlorhexidine also presents a serious risk of anaphylaxis to the patient.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review aims to investigate the aetiology, prevention and management of AO and highlight the extent of inappropriate prescribing and intra-alveolar chlorhexidine use.

DESIGN

A scoping review was undertaken using the PRISMA guidelines. Medline, Ovid and Pubmed were searched between 2010 and 2020, from which 63 studies were selected for review that related to the aetiology, prevention or management of AO. Data were analysed for frequency of studies reporting information on risk factors for aetiology, prevention strategies and management including inappropriate management using antibiotic prescribing and intra-alveolar chlorhexidine.

RESULTS

Impaired immune response, surgical technique and age were identified as significant factors in the development of AO, while there is conflicting evidence regarding the effects of smoking and gender. With regard to prevention, the use of prophylactic antibiotics is not supported within the literature. Saline irrigation and eugenol pastes used preventively have been shown to be cheap and effective alternatives to chlorhexidine with no adverse effects. Hyaluronic acid and low-level laser therapies showed a significant reduction in pain and soft-tissue inflammation in the management of AO compared to Alveogyl.

CONCLUSIONS

Further understanding of the pathophysiology of AO is needed, in addition to large high-quality RCTs or long-term observational studies into the aetiology, prevention, and management of AO to produce up-to-date evidence-based clinical guidelines. Clinicians should also be mindful of their contribution to growing antimicrobial resistance and avoid inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics. Saline should replace chlorhexidine as the intra-alveolar irrigant of choice.

Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Methods of Postoperative Pain Control Following Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: A Scoping Review

PURPOSE

To conduct a scoping review regarding current pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of postoperative pain control following oral and maxillofacial surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed was used to conduct research for this study. Identification criteria included surgery: patients undergoing the extraction of third molars; therapy: pharmacological or non-pharmacological methods; and outcomes: postoperative pain control. The search included full-text RCTs published after October 13, 2014, that were electronically accessible on PubMed and in the English language. After assessing quality, a scoping review was performed.

RESULTS

Thirty-five RCTs were evaluated, which included a total of 3,791 subjects. The studies evaluated patients' postoperative pain by either utilizing a visual analogue scale (VAS), measuring the time between surgery and when rescue analgesics were used, measuring the amount of rescue analgesics used, or by distributing questionnaires.

CONCLUSION

COX-2 inhibitors may provide greater analgesic effects compared to traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Additionally, although the supplementation of an opioid analgesic to a NSAID regimen provides an increase in pain control, it does not further reduce pain levels in a patient alternating between ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Other methods of postoperative pain control mentioned in this review should be further explored in studies that contain larger sample sizes and that evaluate side effects of the treatment.

Systematic review: Effectiveness of herbal oral care products on ventilator-associated pneumonia

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) resulting from bacterial infection is a prevalent medical problem in intensive care units (ICUs). The purpose of this study was to systematically review available studies on oral products employed to control and reduce VAP in patients undergoing tracheal intubation. This study was based on a systematic review of clinical trial data from science databases such as PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of science. Articles were reviewed and selected according to defined criteria and assessed by the primary evaluation checklist. After a critical review of 3,143 search hits, only 18 relevant articles were finally selected for discussion. Our assessment revealed that chlorhexidine and some other oral herbal medications are beneficial in preventing VAP. Chlorhexidine oral dosage forms provide a remarkable role in oral health and prevention of VAP by decreasing the microbial flora in the mouth. Because of similar benefits and comparable effects, some herbal medicines can be suggested as a practical alternative to chlorhexidine.

Microbiota of alveolar osteitis after permanent tooth extractions: A systematic review

Alveolar osteitis (AO) or dry socket after dental extractions is a common postoperative complication characterized by the presence of severe pain associated with an empty socket. Although some authors consider AO to be related to an alteration of the blood clot, the underlying etiology remains unclear, and recent reports suggest that bacteria might play an important role. A systematic review was made, compiling relevant references from PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Scopus and the Web of Science databases to determine which bacteria have been identified in AO sockets after dental extractions. Papers published between 1980-2019, identifying the bacteria present in AO sockets after tooth extractions, were included. Data were displayed in tables, and a descriptive analysis was carried out. After the screening process, four papers were analyzed, comprising a total of 138 samples from 138 patients with AO. The most commonly detected bacteria were Prevotella, Fusobacterium, Parvimonas and Peptostreptococcus. Two studies also showed the microbiota of patients that developed AO after dental extractions to be apparently different from that of patients without postoperative complications. These results indicate that bacteria may play an important role in the pathogenesis of AO, though further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Effect of concentrated growth factors on frequency of alveolar Osteitis following partially-erupted mandibular third molar surgery: a randomized controlled clinical study

Background

The aim of this prospective study was to assess the effectiveness of concentrated growth factors (CGF) in preventing the development of alveolar osteitis (AO) after the extraction of partially-erupted mandibular third molars.

Methods

Seventy patients (26 men and 44 women) 18 years or older (mean age 25.86; range 18–35) underwent 140 third molar extractions. All the patients presented with bilateral, partially-erupted mandibular third molars and underwent surgical extractions. In each case, one socket received CGF and the other served as a control. The predictor variable was the CGF application and the sides were categorized as ‘CGF’ and ‘non-CGF’. The outcome variable was the development of AO during the first postoperative week. Other study variables included age and gender. Data were analyzed using Cochran’s Q test with the significance level set at a P value less than 0.05.

Results

The overall frequency of AO was 11.4% for the control group. The frequency of AO in the CGF group was significantly lower than in the non-CGF group (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Based on the results of this study, application of CGF fibrin gel may decrease the risk of AO development after mandibular third molar surgery.

Trial registration

This study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov database on November 1, 2019 (ID: NCT04151147, retrospectively registered).

Modifications of emergency dental clinic protocols to combat COVID-19 transmission

During the COVID-19 pandemic, incidence rates for dental diseases will continue unabated. However, the intent to prevent the spread of this lethal respiratory disease will likely lead to reduced treatment access due to restrictions on population movements. These changes have the potential to increase dental-related emergency department visits and subsequently contribute to greater viral transmission. Moreover, dentists experience unique challenges with preventing transmission due to frequent aerosol-producing procedures. This paper presents reviews and protocols implemented by directors and residents at the Dental College of Georgia to manage a dental emergency clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic. The methods presented include committee-based prioritization of dental patients, a multilayered screening process, team rotations with social and temporal spacing, and modified treatment room protocols. These efforts aid in the reduction of viral transmission, conservation of personal protective equipment, and expand provider availability. These protocols transcend a university and hospital-based models and are applicable to private and corporate models.

Alveolar Osteitis: A Review of Current Concepts

PURPOSE

The purpose of the present review was to explore the pathogenesis and etiology of alveolar osteitis (AO) to obtain a more intuitive understanding of the clinical prevention and management of the condition. The different treatment modalities were discussed through both the mechanistic understanding of AO and the evidence regarding the different modes of prevention and management.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Ovid Medline, PubMed, and Cochrane Central Register online databases were used to complete an advanced search using the MeSH term "dry socket," generating 756 results.

RESULTS

A total of 8 studies on the prevention of AO were included, with 66 studies included for review of the reported data overall. The information was categorized into incidence, etiology and pathogenesis, prevention, and management. The relevant background information and evidence for each category were summarized.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding of the pathogenesis and etiology of AO has improved in recent years, which has been helpful for developing effective evidence-based treatment and prevention of the condition. Clinicians should be aware of the complexity and multifactorial nature of the etiology of AO and the current concepts regarding the prevention and treatment of AO.

Does chlorhexidine mouthwash reduce the rate of oral colonization bygram-negative bacteria in patients with chemotherapy? Aplacebo-controlled trial

The presence of gram-negative bacteria in the oral cavity is an undesirable occurrence in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Our aim was to investigate the antibacterial effect of 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwash in chemotherapypatients with a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. There were no significant differences between oral colonization rates; there may be local factors that interfere with chlorhexidine activity.