Effectiveness of the aqueous extract of aloe in the treatment of oral alveolitis

Abstract

Background: alveolitis is a complication that may appear after the extraction of a tooth. It is considered a dental emergency due to the intense pain. Its prevalence is worrisome for the dental services for the complications and disability that it can provoke in patients.
Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of the aqueous extract of aloe with pharmaceutical use in the treatment of alveolitis.
Method: an experimental study was carried out with 100 patients that visited the Provincial Teaching Dental Clinic, “La Vigía” Clinic, and “Julio Antonio Mella” Polycilinic of Camaguey in 2014, and that were diagnosed with alveolitis. The sample was made up of 50 patients in the control group treated with Alvogyl and 50 patients in the study group treated with aloe.
Results: most of the patients belonged to the 26 to 45 age group. At 24 hours of treatment the results on pain relief were similar for both groups, with an 18 % for the study group and a 16 % for the control group. At 48 hours the best results were found in the control group, with 62 % of patients with no pain, and only a 30 % in the study group. At 72 hours this tendency was kept with 90 % in the control group and 72 % in the study group. In the study group an 84 % of the patients with wet alveolitis felt pain relief.
Conclusions: the aqueous extract of aloe is a natural drug which is effective in the treatment of alveolitis, mainly in wet alveolitis and those affecting the maxillary bones. There were no adverse reactions with none of the used medications.