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Sanchis J M, S´ez U et al. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2004; 62: 587–591

It has been suggested that tetracycline may prevent dry socket, and research has provided little supporting evidence. In this study, a tetracycline-containing substance was placed postoperatively in the sockets of 100 patients undergoing uncomplicated surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. Another group of 100 patients undergoing the same procedure (but with no postoperative tetracycline) was used as controls. It is not stated whether the study involved randomisation. All patients were treated by third year postgraduate students.

There were no differences between the groups in respect of age, gender, smoking, hygiene and the difficulty of surgery. Postoperative pain experience did not differ between groups, nor did analgesic consumption. The incidence of dry socket was 2% (three cases in those receiving tetracycline and one in the controls), and occurred in patients of average age 38 years, whereas the mean age of all patients was 25 years. Dry socket also appeared to relate to surgical difficulty.