Influence of Alvogyl on the healing of extraction wound in man

Eight volunteer patients free of any systamic disease underwent extraction of two teeth on the same day. One extraction socket was packed with Alvogyl, the other served as a control wound. Biopsies for histological assessment were taken from both sockets 1 and 2 weeks after extraction. Histological study revealed the normal sequence of wound healing in the sockets allowed to heal spontaneously. On the other hand, the signs of retarded wound healing (acute inflammatory infiltrate, persistent granulation tissue, failure to form connective tissue scar and frequent foreign bodies/foreign body giant cells) were encountered in the sockets packed with Alvogyl. On the basis of these preliminary results, it seems warranted to state that the systematic use of Alvogyl as a preventive and curative treatment for postextraction alveolar infections cannot be advocated.