The effectiveness of three treatments for alveolar osteitis was compared. It was found that chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash treatment and 2.5 percent Lidocaine ointment treatment reduced the number of days a patient was symptomatic compared to the conventional eugenol-impregnated iodoform gauze treatment. With the conventional use of eugenol-impregnated iodoform gauze, the severity of the patient's symptoms were reduced more effectively than with the other two treatments, but the symptoms lasted longer.