Study confirms certain risk factors for development of alveolar osteitis.

METHODS

Prospective nested case-control study. CASE/CONTROL SELECTION: From a cohort of 1423 Patents age 18 and older undergoing dental extractions at a public dental clinic in Chile examined at four days post-extraction. Eighty cases of alveolar osteitis were identified. Eighty matched controls were selected from the cohort at random.

METHODS

Eight predictor variables (risk factors), namely patient gender, hygiene, tooth location, previous surgical site infection, traumatic extraction, systemic diseases, alcohol consumption and tobacco use were considered. A binary regression logistic analysis was performed to determine significant associations.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of alveolar osteitis was 6.14%. Logistic regression analysis after adjustment showed a statistically significant association between three variables and the development of alveolar osteitis; previous surgical site infection (odds ratio [OR], 3.3; 95% CI, 1.4 to 7.7), traumatic extraction (OR, 13.1; 95% CI, 5.4 to 31.7) and smoking of tobacco after extraction (OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.3 to 9.0).

CONCLUSIONS

Previous surgical site infection, traumatic extraction and tobacco smoking are associated with an increased risk of alveolar osteitis.