A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Honey in the Management of Dry Socket

BACKGROUND: Natural products have been used for several years in folk medicine. Honey was used to treat infected wounds as long ago as 2000 years before bacteria was discovered to be the cause of infection. It has been reported from various clinical studies on the usage of honey as a dressing for infected wounds that the wound become sterile in 3–6 days. AIM: This study aimed to find out the efficiency of naturally occurring honey in alveolar osteitis. METHODOLOGY: Fifty patients of dry socket were selected from the outpatient department of oral and maxillofacial surgery. A diagnosis of dry socket was made clinically. Honey was used as a dry socket dressing in all these patients. Parameters such as mucosal edges, pain, and formation of granulation tissue were assessed in the postoperative period for a week. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Analysis was done by paired t-test method using SPSS software version 17. RESULTS: In this study, there was a significant reduction in inflammation, hyperemia, and mucosal edges that resulted in the reduction of pain and discomfort to the patient. There was no side effect of honey observed in our study, so it can be used as an alternative for the management of dry socket. Change in distance between mucosal edges when compared from the day of clinical presentation to 5(th) day postplacement was statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There are no side effects of honey. Excess use of eugenol can lead to necrosis of bone. Thus, honey can be used as a medicament for the management of dry socket.