Abstract
Background: Alveolar osteitis (AO) presents a perplexing clinical scenario characterized by post-operative discomfort localized in or around the site of a recently extracted tooth. This systematic review endeavors to bridge the knowledge gap in the AO prevention by focusing on topical preventive medications (PMs), shedding light on their effectiveness and potentials to mitigate patient discomfort while reducing post-extraction complications.
Methodology: This comprehensive investigation spanned the years 2017 to 2023 and involved a meticulous search across reputable academic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. The inclusion criteria for this review specifically targeted preventive measures for AO in individuals following mandibular extraction and other dental surgeries. The methodological assessment of studies was carried out by means of the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT).
Results: This comprehensive analysis, covering 17 studies with a total of 2,873 participants and 200 tooth sockets, revealed a demographic distribution of 51.2% females (n=1,471) and 48.7% males (n=1,402), with an average age of 33±2 years. Across all studies, PMs were associated with decreased AO incidences at the end of the study period, with no adverse events reported. However, scarcity of data across several PMs hinders the ability to generalize this data.
Conclusion: All the prophylactics were effective in the prevention of AO. However, further research is imperative to optimize their efficacy and investigate potential synergistic combinations for high-risk groups.

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Copyright (c) 2025 Siraj DAA Khan, Ali Mohammed Ali Alyami, Majed Ahmad Magbool, Dhafer Ali S. Quayman, Mohammed Hade Salem Almtere, Mohammed Nasser Almobti, Sulaiman Mana Mesfer Al Hutaylah (Author)