THE EFFECT OF POLYLACTIC ACID GRANULES ON THE INCIDENCE OF ALVEOLAR OSTEITIS AFTER MANDIBULAR 3RD MOLAR SURGERY - A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED STUDY

Objective. To evaluate the effect of polylactic acid granules placed i n third molar sockets on the incidence of alveolar osteitis. Study des ign. A prospective randomized study with 161 patient (322 bilateral im pacted mandibular third molars), Results. The sockets in which the pol ylactic acid granules were placed had a significantly higher rate of a lveolar osteitis can (23.6%) than did the control sockets (13.58%). In all subgroups analyzed, the incidence of alveolar osteitis was higher in the experimental (polylactic acid) group. Conclusion. On the basis of the findings of this study, polylactic acid granules do not reduce the incidence of alveolar osteitis and may actually contribute to a h igher incidence of alveolar osteitis.