Effects of a chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse on the incidence of alveolar osteitis in mandibular third molar surgery.

Alveolar osteitis (dry socket) continues to be a frequent sequela of third molar surgery. Chlorhexidine 0.12% used as an oral rinse has been reported to reduce the incidence of dry socket. This study compares the effectiveness of 0.12% chlorhexidine used as a preoperative rinse and immediate postextraction irrigant with 1) similarly used 0.05% cetylpyridium, preoperative chlorhexidine rinse and postextraction saline irrigation, and 2) only postextraction irrigation with normal saline in the reduction of alveolar osteitis in mandibular third molar extractions. The results indicate that chlorhexidine and cetylpyridium were no more effective in the reduction of alveolar osteitis than postextraction irrigation with normal saline.