Is alveolar osteitis more prevalent since COVID-19? A cross-sectional study

The aim of the study was to analyze the association between post-extraction alveolar osteitis and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a single center. A monocentric cross-sectional study was carried out at NSVK Sri Venkateshwara Dental College and Hospital located in Bannerughatta, Bengaluru in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from January 2021 to August 2022. The study sample comprised 50 participants; an extraction of one or more teeth was performed on women and men between the age group of 15–83 years and returned with complication of alveolar osteitis. Demographic details such as age, gender, medical history, personal habits, COVID-19 immunization history, history of COVID-19, and its complications were acquired from the patient’s case history files throughout the study and recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the collected data. Chi-square test was used to check for association between the groups. Females (62%) were majority of the study participants with an average age of 40 years. Of the patients reported to the hospital, 46% were COVID-positive, 38% were smokers, 48% consumed alcohol, and 80% presented with some underlying systemic condition. A statistically significant association was seen between history of COVID-19 positive patients and systemic condition with P = 0.014 (P ≤ 0.05). Patients with systemic conditions were more prone to dry socket; however, personal habits such as smoking, alcohol, and use of tobacco showed no direct relationship. According to study, previous history of COVID-19 infection did not have significant effects in regards to alveolar osteitis. Thus, more research on recovered COVID-19 patients should be done to understand the etiology of dry socket.