The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine (PVP-I) 2 % as hemostyptic when used as an irrigant in low concentration during surgical procedures.

We selected 100 healthy patients who needed routine dental extraction for this study. Patients were divided into two groups: the treatment group (n = 50) and the control group (n = 50). The alveolar sockets of patients in the treatment group were irrigated using PVP-I (2 %, w/v) following routine dental extraction, whereas those of the control group were irrigated using normal saline (sodium chloride 0.9 %, w/v). Spontaneous cessation of bleeding from the socket following irrigation was considered as significant hemostasis. After irrigation, the sockets were compressed with digital pressure. Data were analyzed using SPSS software.

Both groups were matched for age (t test, p > 0.05 %). Average bleeding control time in the PVP-I (2 % w/v) group was 135.72 ± 11.348 s and in the saline group 168.78 ± 23.661 s (which was statistically significant at p < 0.001). Out of 100 patients, 42 % were female and 58 % were male; both groups were matched for gender (χ2, p = 0.224).

PVP-I significantly (p < 0.001) controlled bleeding as compared with saline, suggesting that PVP-I irrigation acts as a hemostyptic.