Prevention of alveolar osteitis with chlorhexidine: a meta-analytic review.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to assess if chlorhexidine (CHX) rinse decreases the occurrence of alveolar osteitis (AO) following third molar removal. STUDY DESIGN A literature search identified 7 randomized prospective clinical trials reporting incidence of AO following removal of mandibular third molars. Studies were combined into 2 groups and summary relative risks were calculated for each group. One group of studies evaluated rinsing on the day of surgery only and the second group of studies rinsed at least on the day of surgery and several days after surgery. RESULTS The relative risk for the single rinse group was 1.36 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80, 2.33), P>.05, whereas for the multiple rinse group, the relative risk was 1.90 (95% CI 1.46, 2.47), P<.05. CONCLUSION Rinsing with CHX on the day of surgery and several days after may reduce the incidence of AO.