title: The effect of locally applied gauze drain impregnated with chlortetracycline ointment in mandibular third-molar surgery.
abstract: A prospective randomized crossover, within-patient, controlled study was performed in 26 healthy patients to test the effect of the prophylactic local use of gauze drain impregnated with chlortetracycline (Aureomycin 3%, Lederle) ointment on postoperative alveolitis formation after surgical removal of 52 bilaterally impacted mandibular third molars. The teeth were removed on two separate occasions; on one side drain was inserted in the socket, and on the other side no drain treatment was used for control. The influence on postoperative pain, swelling, and mouth opening ability was investigated. The results indicated a statistically significant reduction (P = 0.02) in the incidence of postoperative inflammatory complications, defined as postoperative alveolitis, from 35% in the no-drain group to 4% in the drain group. No statistically significant difference was found between the two treatment methods with regard to pain and mouth opening reduction. There was a significant difference between the drain and no-drain treatment with regard to swelling on the 1st postoperative day in favor of the no-drain method. It is concluded that insertion of a chlortetracycline-impregnated drain may be an effective method for reducing postoperative alveolitis formation but has no beneficial effect on pain, swelling, and mouth opening reduction after impacted mandibular third-molar surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine, Faculty of Odontology, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Akota
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alvsaker
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bjørnland
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018890:Chemoprevention; D002751:Chlortetracycline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004368:Dry Socket / Q000517:prevention & control; D004487:Edema / Q000517:prevention & control; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D009068:Movement; D009824:Ointments; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015503:Surgical Sponges; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009824:Ointments; D002751:Chlortetracycline