title: The efficacy of intra-alveolar 0.2% chlorhexidine gel on alveolar osteitis: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this meta-analysis was to assess the effect of 0.2% chlorhexidine gel in preventing alveolar osteitis following mandibular third molar extraction(s).
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, Science Direct and the references of identified articles were searched for relevant studies that met our eligibility criteria. Treatment effects were combined by meta-analysis using RevMan 5.3 and Stata 12.0 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 11 trials in this meta-analysis. Compared to the control, 0.2% chlorhexidine gel reduced the risk of alveolar osteitis by 62% (RR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.28-0.53, P < 0.00001) following mandibular third molar extraction(s). The subgroup analysis results indicated that 0.2% chlorhexidine gel reduced the risk of alveolar osteitis after mandibular third molar extraction(s) by 75% (RR = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.11-0.58) and 56% (RR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.30-0.63) compared to no treatment and placebo, respectively. However, the occurrence of alveolar osteitis following mandibular third molar extraction(s) was not significantly different between 0.2% chlorhexidine gel and 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwash (RR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.06-1.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that 0.2% chlorhexidine gel was effective in preventing alveolar osteitis after lower third molar extraction(s).
authors.affiliation: College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.|Chongqing Key Laboratory for Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.|Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.|Chongqing Key Laboratory for Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.|Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.|Chongqing Key Laboratory for Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.|Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.|Chongqing Key Laboratory for Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.|Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.|Chongqing Key Laboratory for Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.|Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004368:Dry Socket / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible; D008964:Molar, Third; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D005782:Gels; D002710:Chlorhexidine
keywords: alveolar osteitis; chlorhexidine; chlorhexidine gel; dry socket; mandibular third molar extraction(s); meta-analysis