I. Akota et al., THE EFFECT OF LOCALLY APPLIED GAUZE DRAIN IMPREGNATED WITH CHLORTETRACYCLINE OINTMENT IN MANDIBULAR 3RD-MOLAR SURGERY, Acta Odontologica Scandinavica, 56(1), 1998, pp. 25-29
A prospective randomized crossover, within-patient, controlled study w
as performed in 26 healthy patients to test the effect of the prophyla
ctic local use of gauze drain impregnated with chlortetracycline (Aure
omycin 3%(R), Lederle) ointment on postoperative alveolitis formation
after surgical removal of 52 bilaterally impacted mandibular third mol
ars. The teeth were removed on two separate occasions; on one side dra
in was inserted in the socket, and on the other side no drain treatmen
t was used for control. The influence on postoperative pain, swelling,
and mouth opening ability was investigated. The results indicated a s
tatistically significant reduction (P = 0.02) in the incidence of post
operative inflammatory complications, defined as postoperative alveoli
tis, from 35% in the no-drain group to 4% in the drain group. No stati
stically significant difference was found between the two treatment me
thods with regard to pain and mouth opening reduction. There was a sig
nificant difference between the drain and no-drain treatment with rega
rd to swelling on the Ist postoperative day in favor of the no-drain m
ethod. It is concluded that insertion of a chlortetracycline-impregnat
ed drain may be an effective method for reducing postoperative alveoli
tis formation but has no beneficial effect on pain, swelling, and mout
h opening reduction after impacted mandibular third-molar surgery.