Alveolitis after operative removal of third molars in the mandible

The aim of the investigation was to assess the importance of various factors in the aetiology of alveolitis sicca dolorosa. Two hundren partially erupted or totally impacted mandibular third molars were surgically removed. The patients were divided into four groups. The patients in group 1 were premedicated with a single dose of penicillin-V (phenoxymethylpenicillin), those in group 2 with an antisialogogue (methylscopolamine nitrate), and those in group 3 with an antifibrinolytic agent (tranexamic acid). Group 4 were non-premedicated controls. The frequency of alveolitis in the groups 1 and 2 was significantly less than in the groups 3 and 4. This indicates the importance of salivary contamination of the surgical field and of infection as aetiologic factors in alveolitis.