Effect of chlorhexidine rinse on the incidence of dry socket in impacted mandibular third molar extraction sites.

This nonrandomized prospective study was conducted in a private practice setting to determine the effect of a 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate rinse (Peridex, Proctor and Gamble, Cincinnati, Ohio) on the incidence of dry socket after removal of impacted mandibular third molars. Over a 3-year period, 371 patients (total of 654 impacted mandibular third molars) received either no treatment (group 1), 2 weeks of twice daily Peridex rinse postsurgery (group 2), or one rinse presurgery (group 3). The group that used Peridex twice daily for 2 weeks after surgery (group 2) showed a significant reduction (56%) in the incidence of dry socket when compared with either the group that did not rinse (group 1) or the group that rinsed only once just before surgery (group 3). The incidence of dry socket was higher in smokers and in females who used oral contraceptives. Twice daily use of Peridex for 2 weeks also yielded significant reductions in dry socket in smokers, nonsmokers, and in females who did not use oral contraceptives. Results from this study demonstrate that the use of Peridex for 2 weeks after surgery is effective in prevention of dry socket after surgical extraction of impacted molars.