Abstract

Background and objective: Alveolar osteitis is the most common post-odontectomy complication. Despite saline irrigation followed by Zinc oxide eugenol packing is a recommended treatment method, the literature (up to the best of my knowledge) is deprived of any study to determine if the effect was due to saline or ZOE. The aim of the current study therefore was to evaluate the effect of both agents.
Materials and methods: A total of 2029 patients were categorized into 4 groups (I, II, III, and IV) according to pain severity (mild, moderate, severe, or agonizing, respectively). Each group was randomly divided into four subgroups according treatment method used: saline cotton pellet (SP), irrigation (Irr), zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE), irrigation and ZOE (I+Z).
Results: SP was ineffective for all groups. I (Saline irrigation) depicted better results than that of ZOE. Whereas I and I+Z were palliative in group II (however I+Z was more potent), I+Z was curative in group I. All agents were ineffective in group III and IV.
Conclusion: Despite the effect of I+Z might be due to synergistic effect of both agents, saline seamed be more important than ZOE.

Keywords: Saline; Zinc oxide; Alveolar; Osteitis