Management of Dry Socket: a Comparison of Two Treatment Modalities

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of local application of chlorhexidine digluconate and combination of Iodoform with Butylparaminobenzoate in the management of dry socket. A Quasi experimental study was carried out on a total of sixty diagnosed cases of dry socket. Patients were randomly distributed among two treatment groups (30 patients in each group) i.e. patients of group A were treated by local application of chlorhexidine digluconate gel and of group B by local treatment with combination of Iodoform + Butylparaminobenzoate (Alvogyl). Both the treatment groups were given the same systemic analgesic i.e., Ibuprofen 400mg TDS along with thorough irrigation of the socket. Patients were followed for five consecutive days by replacing dressing each day and findings were recorded in the proforma. Out of the sixty patients, forty five were males and fifteen were females (3:1). In group A there were 22 (73.33%) males and 8 (26.66%) females and in group B there were 23 (76.66%) males and 7 (23.33%) females. Mean age was 31.68 (11.23+S.D). There was no significant effect of gender (P=0.766) and age (P=0.668) on both of the treatment groups respectively. All patients measured their pain subjectively as S3 i.e. severe pain on day 1 on visual analogue scale. There was a significant difference in pain control of the two treatment groups on 2nd, 3rd and 4th treatment day with P=0.000, P=0.000 and P = 0.02 respectively. Significant difference was noted for sensitivity on gentle probing the extraction socket between the results of two treatment groups on 3rd and 4th day i.e. p=0.000 for both days. Iodoform and Butylparaminobenzoate (Alvogyl) had been the most successful combination in relieving patient’s pain.