Osteomyelitis of the mandible: a complication of routine dental extractions in alcoholics.

Osteomyelitis is a rare sequel to a dental extraction. Three cases are described where osteomyelitis followed routine dental extractions in patients with a history of alcoholism. It is suggested that depression of the host's defences, due to alcoholism, modified the response to and the spread of this serious infection. Such patients represent a high risk group and should be identified prior to treatment to avoid unnecessary complications.