['A randomised, prospective clinical trial with parallel groups was carried out in a single centre.', 'The experimental (gel) group (n=41) applied a bioadhesive 0.2% chlorhexidine gel to the wound during the first postoperative week and a control (rinse) group (n=32) used a 0.12% (v/v) chlorhexidine mouthrinse during the first week following third molar extraction. Patients were evaluated on the third and seventh postoperative day.', "Alveolar osteitis was evaluated according to Blum's criteria..", 'A 70% decrease in postoperative alveolar osteitis in the gel group (P 0.04) was observed. The rinse group had 25% incidence of postoperative alveolar osteitis, whereas the gel group had 7.5%. T equates to a number needed to treat of six (95% confidence interval, 3-144).'] Does chlorhexidine gel reduce incidence of alveolar osteitis after extraction of the mandibular third molars?