Further evidence confirms the association between smoking and dry socket: a motivational opportunity for tobacco cessation

DESIGN

A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

DATA SOURCES

Electronic search included PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases up to March 2022 using appropriate keywords.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The review included all observational studies (case-control, cohort and cross-sectional studies) published in English after 2000, comparing the prevalence of dry socket between smokers and non-smokers after simple or surgical tooth extraction. Exclusion criteria included patients with other post-extraction complications, prevalence of different risk factors, and unrelated study designs (literature reviews, case reports, expert opinion, and conference reports).

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Two independent investigators screened the records (by title, abstract, and full text), and selected the eligible studies according to the predefined criteria. Collected data from each study included author name and country, year of publication, gender and age of patients, smoking status, inclusion and exclusion criteria, medical history and oral hygiene, prevalence of dry socket, type of tooth and extraction technique, symptoms and treatment. Risk of bias was assessed according to the (NHLBI, NIH) Quality Assessment Tool For Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies, while the level of evidence was assessed using the classification of the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine levels for diagnosis. Two independent reviewers conducted the assessments, and any disagreements were addressed through discussion.

RESULTS

Eleven studies from ten different countries representing a total of 10,195 patients (3007 smokers and 7188 non-smokers) were included in the final analysis. Nine studies were classified as having "good" quality and two as "intermediate," while all of the studies have the third or fourth level of evidence (through 5-graded scale). The prevalence of dry socket in smokers was about 13.2% (95% CI: 5.8-23.1%) and in non-smokers about 3.8% (95% CI: 2.1-6.0%). Meta-analysis showed that regular tobacco smoking was associated a more than 3-fold increase in the odds of dry socket after tooth extraction.

CONCLUSION

Despite heterogeneity among the included studies (different age groups and types of teeth extracted), there was a consistent association between cigarette smoking and an elevated risk of developing dry socket post tooth extraction.

The effects of photobiomodulation therapy for treatment of alveolar osteitis (Dry Socket): Systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Dry socket (alveolar osteitis) is one of the most common complications that occur after the extraction of permanent teeth. The aim of this review was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of photobiomodulation (PBT) with other treatment methods on alveolar osteitis.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, Scopus and Cochrane's CENTRAL online databases were searched based on the search strategy. Also, the prominent laser journals and the references of relevant studies were hand searched for eligible studies and then the data were extracted from the retrieved studies were extracted using piloted custom forms. The data were combined and analyzed using inverse-variance random-effect meta-analysis.

RESULTS

For the treatment of dry socket, pain perception based on the VAS score, PBT on average has a 3.41 higher pain level reduction compared to alveogyl which seems to be both statistically and clinically significant. In addition, based on the GRADE score, the evidence seems to be of moderate quality. Also, in the individual studies which were included in this systematic review, PBT seems to be more effective than other methods (Salicept, zinc-oxide eugenol, ozone, and photodynamic therapy) in pain reduction of patients with alveolar osteitis.

CONCLUSIONS

PBT, in general, has a higher ability in decreasing pain levels for patients with alveolar osteitis (dry socket) compared to alveogyl. Therefore, PBT could be used as an appropriate method for treatment and controlling the signs of dry socket.

The Efficiency of Three Irrigating Solutions after Surgical Removal of Impacted Mandibular Third Molars: A Cross-sectional Study

AIM

The present study was conducted to assess the effect of irrigation with three different irrigants, namely normal saline, chlorhexidine, and povidone iodine on pain, alveolar osteitis, swelling, trismus, infection, and food impaction during surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-eight patients, including 26 males and 22 females, fulfilling criteria for inclusion in this study were divided into three groups: group I where irrigant used was normal saline, group II as chlorhexidine, and group III as povidone iodine group.

RESULTS

The pain was significantly more in groups I and III in 24 hours and 7th day as well. Alveolar osteitis was noted in groups III and I, nil in group II. The facial swelling measured in millimeters on 24 hours and on 7th day was significantly higher in 24 hours in groups I and III than in group II. Trismus was significantly more in group I and group III than in group II (with p < 0.01) on 7th day.

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that chlorhexidine is effective in reducing pain, alveolar osteitis, swelling, and trismus when used as an irrigant following surgical removal of impacted third molar.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Chlorhexidine as irrigating solution helps in reducing the postoperative consequences after third molar surgery. Further studies are required using large sample size.

An unusual microscopic pattern of foreign body reaction as a complication of dry socket management

Foreign body reactions in the oral cavity are relatively common, frequently resulting from iatrogenic causes. Depending on the nature of the foreign material, various microscopic patterns may be observed, causing diagnostic difficulties. Recognition of the ensuing unusual microscopic pattern, especially for cases in which the possibility of a foreign body reaction is not entertained in the clinical differential diagnosis, necessitates sufficient degree of suspicion, familiarization with the spectrum of microscopic appearances, and careful clinicopathologic correlation. Medicated dressings of various compositions are commonly placed for prevention or management of dry socket (or alveolar osteitis, a common postoperative complication of tooth extraction) and may be a cause of foreign body reaction. Here, we report a foreign body reaction to a medical dressing material in a postextraction socket, with an unusual microscopic pattern bearing resemblance to parasitic infestation.

Oral and dental health in pregnant women: attitudes among dentists in southeastern Spain

A study was undertaken to determine the general level of knowledge, attitudes and practices in clinical dental care of pregnant women. This was a transversal descriptive study in the form of a structured and anonymous survey completed by dentists in Murcia (southeast Spain). The questionnaire was sent by e-mail and investigated dentists' knowledge of and attitudes toward different dental procedures applying to pregnant women. The response rate to the questionnaire was 60%. The vast majority of dentists (81.3%) agreed that oral care should be part of general healthcare for pregnant women. However, discrepancies were found in knowledge and attitudes to practice.

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

BACKGROUND

Alveolar osteitis (dry socket) is a complication of dental extractions and occurs more commonly in extractions involving mandibular molar teeth. It is associated with severe pain developing 2 to 3 days postoperatively, a socket that may be partially or totally devoid of blood clot and in some patients there may be a complaint of halitosis. It can result in an increase in postoperative visits.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of local interventions for the prevention and treatment of alveolar osteitis (dry socket) following tooth extraction.

SEARCH METHODS

The following electronic databases were searched: the Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register (to 29 October 2012), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2012, Issue 10), MEDLINE via OVID (1946 to 29 October 2012) and EMBASE via OVID (1980 to 29 October 2012). There were no restrictions regarding language or date of publication. We also searched the reference lists of articles and contacted experts and organisations to identify any further 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 post-extraction. 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 for the management of dry socket because these interventions are evaluated in separate Cochrane reviews.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently undertook risk of bias assessment and data extraction in duplicate for included studies using pre-designed proformas. Any reports of adverse events were recorded and summarised into a table when these were available. We contacted trial authors for further details where these were unclear. We followed The Cochrane Collaboration 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 instead. We used the GRADE tool to assess the quality of the body of evidence.

MAIN RESULTS

Twenty-one trials with 2570 participants met the inclusion criteria; 18 trials with 2376 participants for the prevention of dry socket and three studies with 194 participants for the treatment of dry socket. The risk of bias assessment identified six studies at high risk of bias, 14 studies at unclear risk of bias and one studies at low risk of bias. When compared to placebo, rinsing with chlorhexidine mouthrinses (0.12% and 0.2% concentrations) both before and after extraction(s) prevented approximately 42% of dry socket(s) with a RR of 0.58 (95% CI 0.43 to 0.78; P < 0.001) (four trials, 750 participants, moderate quality of evidence). The prevalence of dry socket varied 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 with (0.12% and 0.2%) chlorhexidine rinse to prevent one patient having dry socket (NNT) was 232 (95% CI 176 to 417), 47 (95% CI 35 to 84) and 8 (95% CI 6 to 14) for control prevalences of dry socket of 1%, 5% and 30% respectively.Compared to placebo, placing chlorhexidine gel (0.2%) after extractions prevented approximately 58% of dry socket(s) with a RR of 0.42 (95% CI 0.21 to 0.87; P = 0.02) (two trials, in 133 participants, moderate quality of evidence). The number of patients needed to be treated with chlorhexidine gel to prevent one patient having dry socket (NNT) was 173 (95% CI 127 to 770), 35 (95% CI 25 to 154) and 6 (95% CI 5 to 26) for control prevalences of dry socket of 1%, 5% and 30% respectively.A further 10 intrasocket interventions to prevent dry socket were each evaluated in single studies, and therefore there is insufficient evidence to determine their effects. Five interventions for the treatment of dry socket were evaluated in a total of three studies providing insufficient evidence to determine their effects.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Most tooth extractions are undertaken by dentists for a variety of reasons, however, all but three studies included in the present review included participants undergoing extraction of third molars, most of which were undertaken by oral surgeons. There is some evidence that rinsing with chlorhexidine (0.12% and 0.2%) or placing chlorhexidine gel (0.2%) in the sockets of extracted teeth, provides a benefit in preventing dry socket. There was insufficient evidence to determine the effects of the other 10 preventative interventions each evaluated in single studies. There was insufficient evidence to determine the effects of any of the interventions to treat dry socket. The present review found some evidence for the association of minor adverse reactions with use of 0.12%, 0.2% and 2% chlorhexidine mouthrinses, though most studies were not designed 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 (though previous allergy to chlorhexidine was an exclusion criterion in these trials). In view of recent reports in the UK of two cases of serious adverse events associated with irrigation of dry socket with chlorhexidine mouthrinse, it is recommended that all members of the dental team prescribing chlorhexidine products are aware of the potential for both minor and serious adverse side effects.

[Alveolitis: review of the literature]

Alveolitis are infectious complications following the dental extraction. They appear under two forms: dry, characterized by a painful syndrome and uninhabited alveolus, and suppurative, which becomes identified by provoked pain and alveolus filled. Their etiopathogenesis remain a subject of interrogation because of the rarity of studies concerning this complication. Nevertheless, treatment is mainly favorable by a sedation of the pain and the startup of a physiological healing. From this article, we are going to review their clinical forms, their etiology as well as the followed treatment.

Alveolar osteitis and osteomyelitis of the jaws

Postoperative bone healing after oral surgical procedures occurs uneventfully in most cases. However, in certain patients, the normal process of healing can be delayed and, in some cases, often because of multiple coexisting factors, the sites can become infected, with extension of the infection into medullary bone. This process is termed osteomyelitis. This article outlines the pathogenesis, microbiology, and surgical and medical therapies of this condition and specifically addresses osteomyelitis cases related to patients with no documented history of radiation or bisphosphonate exposure and in whom the principal factor in the development of the condition is infection by pyogenic microorganisms.

The management of dry socket/alveolar osteitis

Dry socket/alveolar osteitis is a very debilitating, severely painful but relatively common complication following dental extractions. Its incidence is approximately 3% for all routine extractions and can reach over 30% for impacted mandibular third molars. A number of methods have been suggested in the literature as to how this condition may be prevented and managed. Most of these suggestions are empirical and not evidence based. This paper is a review of the literature on dry socket. The results of an audit carried out in the Dublin Dental School and Hospital are also presented and a suggestion is made as to how best this painful condition may be managed. Our audit showed that a wide range of treatments are being used in the treatment of dry socket: rinsing of the socket with chlorhexidine (74%) or saline (26%); placement of a non-resorbable obtundant dressing (56%); and, instruction in home rinsing of the socket with chlorhexidine (44%). This condition is one of the most examined topics in dentistry and is currently being researched in the Dublin Dental School and Hospital. Over the years little progress has been made in establishing firm conclusions as to how best dry socket should be managed. Our recommendations are based on a review of the literature, being the best available evidence on which to base our clinical practice.

[Acute conditions of the oral cavity]

Acute conditions are mainly caused by inflammatory and infectious reactions in the dental pulp, periodontal tissues, periapical bone and the tissues around partially impacted teeth. Pain may also be related to traumatic injuries to the teeth and jaws as well as sequelae after oral surgery. Emergency treatment involves incision of abscesses, root canal treatment, irrigation with antiseptics, immobilisation of teeth or fractured bones, and prescription of analgetics. Antibiotics are only indicated in cases in which there is a risk that an infection spreads to adjacent regions or a risk of fever and malaise.

Rapid quantitative determination of C-reactive protein at chair side in dental emergency patients

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to quantitatively determine, at chair side, the serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in dental emergency patients.

STUDY DESIGN

Quantitative CRP test was performed at chair side in 40 patients with acute alveolar abscess (AAA), acute periodontal abscess (APA), and alveolar osteitis (AO) at the time of dental emergency treatment and 1 week after. CRP levels were compared between groups and before and after treatments using ANOVA and Fisher's Exact tests.

RESULTS

Serum CRP levels were greater than 5 mg/L in 30 (75%) of the 40 patients. At 1-week follow-up, the decline in CRP levels was evident in the AAA group (P < .05), but not statistically significant in the APA and AO groups (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

Serum CRP levels are often elevated in patients with odontogenic infections and postoperative complications. Rapid reduction in serum CRP levels was likely to occur following successful treatment of AAA, but less likely to occur in APA and AO.

Update on dry socket: a review of the literature

Dry socket is a postoperative complication that occurs after a dental extraction and has been defined as an inflammation of the alveolus. If this inflammation should surpass the alveolar walls, it would result in a located osteitis. The frequency of appearance of dry socket has been reported in a very wide margin, from 1% until 70%. It is generally accepted that most dry sockets appear after extraction of third retained molars, in which the occurrence of this complication is about 20-30% of dental extractions, ten times more than in the rest of dental extractions. In this work we review the forms of clinical appearance, the risk factors related to this affection and the etiopathogenic theories that try to explain its appearance. The treatment management is also examined. Fibrinolitic agents, laundries, antiseptic, and antibiotics have been studied for its prevention, according to the pathogenic theories of dry socket. We analyze and criticize the different drugs and their results. In conclusion from the revised data, we think it is possible to defend a pathogenic model in which the bacterial fibrinolytic mechanisms and the microorganism of the own patient may contribute to produce the dry socket.

Alveolar osteitis: a review of its etiology, prevention, and treatment modalities

Alveolar osteitis (AO), commonly referred to as dry socket, is by far the most common complication following dental extraction. It represents a breakdown of healing after clot formation but before wound organization. This paper will review the literature associated with the etiology of AO, the risk factors which contribute to AO, and treatment regimens for AO once it is diagnosed. It will conclude with a summary of the current measures that hold the highest promise for the prevention of AO.

[Clinical study of alveolites and their treatment in multiple practice]

The alvéolite is an post-extractionnel accident, very frequent, unforeseeable, characterized by a deterioration of the physiological process of formation of the clot and occurring as well at the healthy subject at the degenerate. The objective of this work is to make an exploratory study on the cases of alvéolites which have occurred in three structures of odontological care in Dakar between October 2000 and June 2001. We studied the clinical and therapeutic aspects alveolites among 55 patients having undergone 168 extractions. On the whole 68 cases of alveolites were indexed including 18 suppurées forms and 50 dry forms. The alveolite was occured among 44 women and 11 men and the section of age which most touched ranges between 20 and 29 ans (51 %). The evoked factors etiologic are multiples(taken oral contraceptives, use of vasoconstricteurs. technical of extraction etc?). The treatment is local by type of antiseptic paste and general with base of antibiotic, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. We don't have real coding of the treatment. The prevention remains the best attitude and consists with: - To carry out the acte operational with a rigorous asepsis - To avoid the inopportune instrumental traumatisms - To Irrigate the bone in permnance during the utilisation of rotary instruments.

The prevalence of post-extraction complications in an outpatient dental clinic in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia--a retrospective survey

The aim of this retrospective study is to report on the prevalence of post-extraction complications among patients attending the Oral Surgery outpatient clinic of the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya over a 12-month period from January to December, 1992. The prevalence of post-extraction complications which required further treatment was only 3.4% (n = 100), out of a total of 2968 patients who had extraction of one or more permanent teeth. Analysis based on complete clinical reports (n = 79) showed that dry socket accounted for nine out of ten cases of post-extraction complications. However the aetiology was largely unknown. No obvious association with medical history could be made. Lower teeth were more likely to have complications. The most common teeth associated with dry socket were the molars (76%) and premolars (19%). The most common molars to be affected are the first, followed by the third and lastly the second molars. A brief review of current aetiological factors of dry socket was discussed.

The general practitioner's perspective of the etiology, prevention, and treatment of dry socket

Alveolar osteitis (AO) is the most common postoperative complication following a tooth extraction. This article focuses on its etiology and contributing factors. It is intended to assist the general practitioner in reducing the incidence of AO in his or her practice. The article includes summaries of current preventive and treatment measures.

Evaluation of topical viscous 2% lidocaine jelly as an adjunct during the management of alveolar osteitis

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the efficacy of topical viscous 2% lidocaine jelly for the alleviation of pain experienced during the instrumentation of mandibular third molar extraction sites diagnosed with alveolar osteitis and for pain relief during the postinstrumentation period.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty adult patients with a diagnosis of alveolar osteitis in a mandibular third molar extraction site were included in this prospective, double-blind study. Each patient had their sutures removed, the socket irrigated, and 2% lidocaine jelly placed on the tip and side of the tongue to blind the patient against the test substances. The subjects were then randomly distributed into two groups. Group 1 had a nonactive jelly base placed into the socket 2 minutes prior to the placement of a standard obtundant dressing. Group 2 had viscous 2% lidocaine jelly placed into the socket in the same manner. Patients subjectively quantified their pain intensity pretreatment, during instrumentation, immediately postmanipulation, at 5-minute intervals to 30 minutes, and at 45 and 60 minutes. They also subjectively quantified their pain relief at each of the time intervals following instrumentation.

RESULTS

There was no statistical difference between the pretreatment pain experienced by both groups. The use of 2% lidocaine jelly had a measurable (P = .056), but not statistically significant, effect on pain due to instrumentation. At every time interval thereafter, the use of 2% lidocaine jelly elicited a statistically significant (P < .05) decrease in pain perception, and a statistically significant increase in pain relief when compared with the inactive jelly.

CONCLUSION

Topical viscous 2% lidocaine jelly is a useful adjunct during the treatment of alveolar osteitis, especially in the early (< or = 60 minutes) postinstrumentation period.

[A method for the prevention and treatment of alveolitis]

The majority of the know methods for therapy of alveolitis are aimed at liquidation of an inflammation in the well and include drug and physiotherapy combined with the required surgical treatment of a well. The aim of our research was development and validation of a method for treatment and prevention of alveolitis providing the optimal conditions for well healing, reducing the period of treatment, and preventing progressive atrophy of the alveolar process. The method consists in the well curettage, its filling with a transplant, and subsequent suturing of the mucosa. The immediate and late results of treatment were good.

[Dry socket. Prevention and treatment]

Although dry socket is a frequent and painful affection, its pathogenesis is still unknown. We present here a review of the literature to propose a logical preventive and therapeutic attitude. The clinical and histological aspects are also tackled.

Third molar surgery: current concepts and controversies. Part 2

The outcome of third molar surgery is influenced by a variety of factors including among others, mucoperiosteal flap design and flap closure and the use of antibiotics and corticosteroids. This article discusses the special significance of modifying factors upon the incidence of perioperative complications associated with third molar surgery.

A prospective survey of hospital ambulatory dental emergencies. Part 2: Follow-up to emergency treatment

Two hundred and fifty-three patients treated for dental emergencies at the University Hospital dental clinic over a three-month period were surveyed by telephone 24 to 48 hours and one year after treatment. The purpose was to investigate the success of treatment in resolving the chief complaint of pain and to determine the compliance with further dental care for the original dental problem. The results of the telephone survey showed that: patients available for questioning totaled 49.1% at 24 to 48 hours and 28.9% at one year; an 80.7% success rate was recorded in resolving pain within 24 to 48 hours; and the original emergency problem did not motivate a large number of these patients to seek further dental care.

[The role of low-frequency ultrasound in the combined treatment of alveolitis]

The authors claim that combined use of a special therapeutic paste and low-frequency ultrasound for therapy of alveolitis help reduce the number of visits to a dentist and shorten the treatment duration. Fifteen patients were treated by this method. They had to visit the dentist two times less and the number of invalidity days was less by 2.2 days, on an average.

[Analgesic laser therapy in dentistry]

The authors, after an analysis of the laser structure and its main utilization, present some clinical reports in which the pain is resolved by soft-laser applications.

"Dry socket": etiology and management

Dry socket is a postoperative complication that most oral surgeons will encounter with some frequency. Its etiology remains obscure, and prevention and management techniques vary considerably. This article will discuss probable etiologies of dry socket and its prevention and successful management.

Treatment of fibrinolytic alveolitis by a collagen paste (Formula K). A preliminary report

Treatment of dry socket using a specially formulated collagen paste was found to be more effective than a treaditional method (zinc oxide/oil of cloves). Collagen-treated patients were less likely to return for review, experienced less pain, showed less tissue reaction and required fewer treatments than zinc oxide-treated controls.