Effects of co-administered dexamethasone and nimesulide on pain, swelling, and trismus following third molar surgery: a randomized, triple-blind, controlled clinical trial

Preemptive vs preventive coadministration of ibuprofen L-arginine and dexamethasone in lower third molar surgeries: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effect of different preemptive and preventive analgesia strategies involving oral coadministration of ibuprofen-arginine (770 mg)-Ib-Ar and dexamethasone (8 mg)-DX, and their respective placebos (P-Ib-Ar and P-DX), four evaluation groups on inflammatory and laboratory parameters, impact on quality of life, pain catastrophizing perception and sleep quality related after lower third molar surgery.

STUDY DESIGN

A randomized split-mouth, triple-blind, controlled clinical trial was conducted with 48 volunteers. They were allocated depending on the use of Ib-Ar or DX, 1 hour before surgery or immediately postoperatively, discriminating the groups: G1 (Ib-Ar + DX), G2 (Ib-Ar + P-DX), G3 (P-Ib-Ar + DX), and G4 (P-Ib-Ar + P-DX).

RESULTS

Pain peaks occurred after 2 h (P-Ib-Ar groups) (P = .003), while the other groups showed peak pain after 4 h (P < .05). Regarding the edema: groups treated with placebos measurements significantly reduced without returning to baseline (P < .001). Regarding laboratory parameters: MPO and MDA levels, the G1 group (P < .001) was the only one showing significant reduction.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of preemptive and preventive analgesia strategies of Ib-Ar and DX showed that the combined use delayed peak pain, with no difference in edema and trismus. The benefit of coadministration of both strategies was superior to isolated use of drugs.

Acute Pain Management Following Mandibular Third Molar Exodontia: A Bibliometric Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

To reveal the evolution of pain management strategies following mandibular third molar (M3M) exodontia, examine the geographic contribution of research, and explore future developments through a bibliometric analysis.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted in various leading databases. Data on bibliometrics, participant demographics, and agent regimens were extracted for eligible studies. Descriptive bibliometrics, citation analysis, and keyword bursts were performed to assess the research outputs, distribution, and emerging hotspots.

RESULTS

A total of 173 randomized control trials from 2004 to 2024 were included. The number of publications showed a consistent upward trend since 2007. Brazil exhibited the most publications and citations. Germany presented the highest mean citations per publication. Brazil, Spain, and Italy showed the closest collaboration. Appropriately 14,391participants with 14,710 extracted M3M were enrolled. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were the most extensively studied analgesics, followed by glucocorticoids, opioids, and paracetamol. NSAIDs and paracetamol were predominantly administered orally, whereas glucocorticoids and opioids were primarily applied topically (P < .001). Studies on opioids significantly predated the studies using other agents. Adverse events were found in 50.87% of the included studies, where nausea and vomiting were the most frequently reported. Tramadol and piroxicam have drawn increasing interest in recent years.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed information on the research outputs, distribution, and future developments of analgesic agents following M3M exodontia. Brazil exhibited the highest level of productivity and recorded the most citations. NSAIDs generated the largest amount of research and are emerging as a benchmark for comparative studies. Oral administration is the most frequently used approach for agent delivery. Nausea and vomiting are the most commonly reported adverse effects.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The bibliometric analysis offers insights into the field of pain management following mandibular 3rd molar exodontia and how it has evolved. Tramadol and piroxicam have become research hotspots in recent years.

Effect of Preoperative Administration of Dexamethasone vs. Methylprednisolone in Surgical Extraction of Impacted Lower Third Molars: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Background/Objectives: Glucocorticoids are drugs that are increasingly used in oral surgery to reduce trismus, inflammation, and postoperative pain, three frequent complications after the surgical extraction of impacted lower third molars. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of 8 mg dexamethasone versus 40 mg methylprednisolone in the prevention of postoperative complications after third molar surgery. Methods: A randomized double-blind clinical trial was conducted following CONSORT guidelines. In detail, 84 patients were included in the study, who randomly received a single preoperative submucosal dose of dexamethasone (8 mg) or methylprednisolone (40 mg). The variables analyzed, as primary outcomes, were trismus, inflammation, and postoperative pain. The measurements were performed at baseline (0 h), 3 h, 7 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 7 th day using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Verbal Rating Scale (VRS), and the Gabka-Matsumara method. Results: Dexamethasone reduced trismus, inflammation, and postoperative pain significantly better than methylprednisolone. Conclusions: Preoperative submucosal administration of 8 mg dexamethasone is effective and safe in reducing the severity of postoperative complications following surgical extraction of impacted lower third molars.

Evaluation of the effects of pregabalin and dexamethasone coadministration on preemptive multimodal analgesia and anxiety in third molar surgeries: a triple-blind randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of pregabalin and dexamethasone coadministration in preemptive analgesia and anxiety control in lower third molar surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A triple-blind, split-mouth clinical trial conducted with patients divided into two groups: control group, receiving placebo and dexamethasone, and test group, receiving pregabalin and dexamethasone preoperatively. The evaluated variables were pain, measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), anxiety assessed through the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaires, hemodynamic parameters [Blood Pressure (BP), Heart Rate (HR), Oxygen Saturation (SpO2)], and sedation assessed by the Ramsay scale.

RESULTS

A total of 31 patients were included. The test group exhibited a significant reduction in pain at 2,4,6,8,12,16,24, and 48 h after surgery and in the consumption of rescue analgesics. Anxiety, evaluated by STAI and VAS, showed a significant decrease in the test group (p < 0.001). Additionally, there was a significant decrease in BP at most of the assessed time points (p < 0.05) and a significant reduction in HR at two different time intervals (p = 0.003 and p = 0.009), indicating a positive effect in the test group. There was no significant difference in SpO2 between the groups. Sedation assessment revealed a significant difference at all time points favoring the test group (p < 0.05). There were no significant postoperative adverse effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregabalin coadministered with dexamethasone demonstrated significant efficacy in controlling postoperative pain and anxiety, as well as a sedative effect.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The coadministration of pregabalin with dexamethasone may presents potential advantages in both pain modulation and psychological well-being of individuals undergoing third molar surgeries.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (REBEC), No. RBR-378h6t6.

Preemptive effects of etoricoxib, acetaminophen, nimesulide, and ibuprofen on postoperative pain management after single-implant surgery: A randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

There is insufficient evidence for pain control in preemptive analgesia (PA) after dental implant surgery, signaling the need for further studies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of PA in single dental implant surgeries (SDIS), seeking to identify among the etoricoxib (ETOR), ibuprofen (IBU), nimesulide (NIME), and acetaminophen (ACETA)], which one has the higher efficacy effectiveness in relieving postoperative pain and reducing the use of rescue medication compared to placebo.

METHODS

In this triple-blind, parallel, randomized controlled clinical trial, 135 individuals with a mean age of 57.6 years (±11.7), both genders, were randomly divided into five groups according to the test drug: I-PLACEBO; II-IBU (600 mg); III-NIME (100 mg); IV-ACETA (750 mg); and V-ETOR (90 mg). The occurrence, duration, and intensity of pain were analyzed using the Chi-square, Fisher's exact and ANOVA tests, and the generalized estimating equation models, when appropriate.

RESULTS

Test drugs provided a reduction in postoperative pain scores and lower use of rescue medication when compared to placebo. The ETOR group presented significantly lower pain scores, when compared to other active treatments. The IBU group showed the highest mean number of rescue medication used.

CONCLUSIONS

All test drugs provided a beneficial preemptive effect demonstrated by the reduced postoperative pain and reduced use of rescue medication. The ETOR group presented lower pain scores, and the IBU group showed the highest mean number of rescue medication used among the test groups.

Is coadministration of preemptive medications an effective strategy for reducing inflammatory clinical events and the need for rescue medication after mandibular third molar surgery? A systematic review of randomized clinical trials

This study aimed to evaluate the scientific evidence on the effect of preemptive drug coadministration (PDC) for relieving inflammatory events (pain, swelling, and trismus) in mandibular third molar surgery. A PROSPERO-registered systematic review (CRD42022314546) was conducted according to the PRISMA guide. The searches were carried out in six primary databases and the gray literature. Studies not written in languages with the Latin alphabet (Roman) were excluded. Potential randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were screened for eligibility. Cochrane's Risk of Bias-2.0 (RoB) tool was assessed. A synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM) based on a vote counting and an effect direction plot. Nine studies (low RoB) fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included for data analysis, with a total of 484 patients. PDC mostly involved corticosteroids (Cort) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). PDC of Cort and other drugs mainly reduced pain scores (6 and 12 h postoperatively) and swelling (48 h postoperatively). PDC of NSAIDs and other drugs mainly reduced pain scores at 6, 8, and 24 h follow-up; swelling and trismus intensity ameliorated at 48 h postoperatively. The most frequently prescribed rescue medication was paracetamol, dipyrone, and paracetamol plus codeine. Results from individual studies have shown reduced consumption of ingested rescue analgesics. In summary, the available evidence from clinical trials included in this SWiM suggests that PDC may provide benefits in reducing the severity of inflammatory outcomes related to mandibular third molar surgery, especially the pain scores in the first hours after surgery, and the rescue analgesic consumption during the postoperative period.

Post-Operative Complications and Risk Predictors Related to the Avulsion of Lower Impacted Third Molars

Background and Objectives: This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the onset and severity of pain and other complications following lower impacted third molar extraction and to identify potential risk predictors. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five patients were treated with at least one lower impacted third molar extraction. The primary outcome was the onset of post-operative pain, evaluated at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 7 days. The secondary outcomes (trismus, edema, alveolitis, dehiscence, neuralgic injury, and suppuration) were recorded at 3, 7 and 21 days after oral surgery. A correlation analysis was performed to identify potential associations between patient- and tooth-related factors and VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) scale. When a statistically significant correlation was identified, a regression analysis was performed. Results: Most of the patients were female (84%) with a mean age of 25 ± 3 years; the reason for oral surgery was dysodontiasis in 60% of cases, while the most frequent Pell and Gregory class was BII (36%). The VAS scale showed the onset of mild pain at 6 h (44%), 12 h (48%), 24 h (68%) and 48 (68%) after surgery. Trismus, edema, and alveolitis were observed at 3-day (20%, 64% and 12%, respectively) and at 7-day (16%, 12% and 4%, respectively) follow-up. Neuralgic injury was reported in one case (4%). The linear regression analysis showed a statistically significant association (p < 0.05) between the duration of oral surgery and VAS scores at 6 and 12 h. Finally, the binary logistic regression identified systemic disease, Pell and Gregory classification, duration of oral surgery, VAS at 6 and 12 h, trismus, and edema at 3 and 7 days as predictive factors of post-operative complications. Conclusions: Within their limits, the results of this study suggest that the onset of post-operative complications increases in proportion to the duration of the surgical procedure.

Current and emerging COX inhibitors for treating postoperative pain following oral surgery

INTRODUCTION

The numerous drugs in the NSAID class are often used to treat acute postoperative pain associated with oral surgery such as impacted third-molar extractions. These drugs are effective in this setting and dental pain studies often serve as models for acute pain relief and for registration of analgesics. With numerous cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors available as monotherapy, for use in combination with analgesic regimens, and in different doses and formulations, it was our aim to determine if there were clear-cut distinctions among these products and dosing regimens.

AREAS COVERED

This is a literature review of recent randomized controlled clinical trials evaluating NSAIDs for use in postoperative pain management following oral surgery. Of particular interest were head-to-head studies, which might offer some insight into comparative effectiveness.

EXPERT OPINION

Postoperative oral surgery pain is largely managed in real-world clinical practice using NSAIDs, either alone or in combination, and there is good evidence supporting their use especially in multimodal therapy. Head-to-head and comparative studies do not show a clear-cut 'optimal NSAID' in this setting, although ibuprofen, ketoprofen, dexketoprofen, and naproxen have gained most acceptance. Combination therapy with other analgesics or adjuvants is largely accepted.

Pre-emptive analgesia efficacy of piroxicam versus tramadol in oral surgery

Background

This double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted to evaluate the pre-emptive analgesia and anti-inflammatory efficacy of piroxicam compared with tramadol in patients undergoing oral surgery.

Methods

Seventy-eight patients who required extraction of impacted mandibular third molars were randomized into three treatment groups of 26 patients each: group I received 100 mg of tramadol, group II received 20 mg of piroxicam, and group III received a placebo. Drugs were administered intramuscularly 30 min prior to the extraction procedure.

Results

Pain intensity, time to first analgesic administration, total analgesic consumption, facial edema, and trismus were the outcomes of interest. The group receiving 20 mg of piroxicam showed significantly lower pain intensity, increased time to first analgesic, and reduced edema from preoperative to postoperative day seven than those in the tramadol and placebo groups.

Conclusion

The findings of this study showed that piroxicam had significant pain relief efficacy after third molar surgery compared with that in tramadol.

Effect of preemptive photobiomodulation associated with nimesulide on the postsurgical outcomes, oxidative stress, and quality of life after third molar surgery: a randomized, split-mouth, controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to compare the effect of photobiomodulation with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and nimesulide on inflammatory parameters, biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation, and quality of life after lower third molar (L3M) surgery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A randomized, two-factor, triple-blind, controlled, split-mouth clinical trial was performed with 40 volunteers who required bilateral L3M removal. Patients were allocated depending on the use or not of 100 mg nimesulide 1 hbefore surgery, as well as the use or not of LLLT in the preoperative period.

RESULTS

Pain peaks occurred after 6 h (nimesulide-placebo [N-P] group) and 8 h (nimesulide group). In the N-P group, LLLT resulted in significantly lower mean pain scores than the subgroup without LLLT after 4 h (p = 0.009) and 6 h (p = 0.048). As for edema, a shorter distance between the mandibular angle and the outer canthus of the eyes after 7 days (p = 0.037) and a smaller cumulative effect (p = 0.036) were observed in the N-P group associated with LLLT. A direct effect between LLLT (p = 0.047) and a reduction in the mean scores of overall dissatisfaction with quality of life was detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Preemptive use of nimesulide only delayed peak pain. LLLT reduced edema, trismus, and contributed to a better perception of quality of life. Nimesulide inhibits peroxidation by increasing GSH and stopping neutrophil migration. The benefit of the association of both strategies was not superior to the use of LLLT alone.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Translational study with impact on clinical-surgical protocols involving L3M surgery related to pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods.

A triple-blind randomized clinical trial of different associations between dexamethasone and non-steroids anti-inflammatories for preemptive action in third molar extractions

The aim of this study is to evaluate the preemptive analgesic effects of dexamethasone (DEX) alone or combined with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in third molar surgeries. The subjects were divided into five groups (n = 20 teeth/group); subjects received only 8 mg of dexamethasone 1 h before the surgical procedure (DEX group), or in combination with etodolac (DEX + ETO), ketorolac (DEX + KET), ibuprofen (DEX + IBU), loxoprofen (DEX + LOX). Paracetamol 750 mg was provided as the number of rescue analgesics (NRA). Salivary PGE2 expression was measured preoperatively and at 48 h. Edema and Maximum mouth opening (MMO) were measured postoperatively at 48 h and 7 days. A visual analog scale (VAS) was performed postoperatively at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 h, and 7 days. Salivary expression of PGE2 showed a decrease only for the DEX group. Edema and MMO and NRA consumption showed no significant differences among the groups (P > 0.05). The VAS showed a significantly lower pain perception at 6 h after the surgery for the DEX + ETO and DEX + KET groups (P < 0.05). The combination of DEX and NSAIDS should be considered for preemptive acute postsurgical pain management in third molar surgery. In some drug associations such as dexamethasone 8 mg + NSAIDS (ETO and KET) in the pre-operative time, only a few rescue analgesics are necessary.

Preemptive effects of ibuprofen and nimesulide on postoperative pain control after open flap periodontal surgeries: A randomized placebo-controlled split-mouth clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Data on preemptive analgesia in periodontal surgeries are scarce and still diverse. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the analgesic effects of the preemptive administration of ibuprofen and nimesulide in open flap periodontal surgeries.

METHODS

The present randomized controlled clinical trial comprised 40 individuals, divided into two groups (n = 20), according to the test drug (ibuprofen and nimesulide) to be administered 1 hour preoperatively. Participants underwent bilateral periodontal surgeries at two different times, and were randomly given the test drug or placebo in a split-mouth design. Postoperative pain and rescue medication were evaluated at different times. Comparisons between ibuprofen and nimesulide were performed through a Generalized Estimation Equation model, using test drug and evaluation times, along with an interaction between these two variables as predictors.

RESULTS

In intergroup comparisons regarding pain control, ibuprofen showed better effects than placebo only at the first postoperative hour, whereas nimesulide showed better effects than placebo at 1, 6, 24, and 48 postoperative hours. In intergroup comparisons, nimesulide showed better effects than ibuprofen at 24, 48, and 72 postoperative hours, demonstrating a higher overall preemptive effect. No differences were observed in relation to the number of rescue medication.

CONCLUSION

Preemptive administration of nimesulide showed better overall preemptive effects on postoperative pain control when compared with ibuprofen.

Variations in reporting of clinician-reported outcome measures in third molar surgery: A focused review

Clinician-reported outcome measures (ClinRO measures) play a fundamental role in quality assurance throughout healthcare systems. With commissioners turning ever more frequently to ClinRO data to evaluate and compare individual hospital performance and casemix, and funding decisions increasingly relying on these data, agreed core outcome sets (COS) are essential for the collection of standardised specialty-specific outcomes. Beyond their role in service commissioning, COS enable standardisation of outcomes in clinical studies, allowing comparisons to be drawn between similar trials as well as pooling of data for systematic reviews and metaanalyses. This review explores those ClinRO measures most commonly reported in the third molar literature, highlighting inconsistencies in ClinRO selection, measurement and reporting among researchers. We recognise here a prime opportunity for the specialty to address this lag in COS relative to other surgical specialties. With the Quality Outcomes in Maxillofacial Surgery (QOMS) overseeing the institution of many subspecialty-specific national databases in recent years, OMFS is well placed to develop a series of COS for each subspecialty domain for the benefit of researchers, clinicians and ultimately, patients.

Is Dexamethasone superior to Ketorolac in reducing pain, swelling and trismus following mandibular third molar removal? A split mouth triple-blind randomized clinical trial

Background

The preemptive use of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as corticosteroids and NSAIDs, has the potential to reduce pain, swelling and trismus following oral surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of dexamethasone and ketorolac tromethamine in reducing pain, swelling and trismus after mandibular third molar removal.

Material and Methods

The researches implemented a triple-blind, randomized clinical trial. The study was conducted with ASA I individuals aging between 18 and 35 years, which were randomized and submitted to two interventions, one with 8mg dexamethasone and the other with 20mg ketorolac tromethamine given 1h before the procedure. The primary predictor variable was the use of dexamethasone or ketorolac. The primary outcome variable was the postoperative pain level, measured with a Visual Analogue Scale. The secondary outcome variables were the amount of rescue analgesic consumed, swelling and trismus. Repeated-measures ANOVA and t-test for paired samples were used to compare the means. Significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results

Fifty individuals were randomized and allocated to intervention, and the sample was composed of 40 subjects who completed the study (27 female and 13 male). Dexamethasone, when compared to ketorolac tromethamine, showed a significantly higher reduction in pain level at 8h, 16h, 24h, 32h, 40h and 72h, in swelling and trismus at 24h, 48h, 72h and 7 days and in total number of rescue analgesics taken up to 72h postoperative (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The clinical performance of dexamethasone in controlling pain, swelling and trismus after mandibular third molar removal was superior to ketorolac tromethamine’s.

Key words:Third Molar, anti-inflammatory agents, dexamethasone, ketorolac.

Anti-Inflammatory Effectiveness of Oral Dexamethasone 4 mg on Mandibular Third Molar Surgeries: A Split-Mouth Randomized Clinical Trial

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of oral dexamethasone 4 mg in a single dose preemptively administered to reduce pain, swelling, and trismus following mandibular third molar surgeries.

METHODS

A split-mouth randomized clinical trial was performed including 22 participants undergoing surgical removal of bilateral and symmetrically positioned third molars. A total of 44 teeth were allocated by simple randomization to either the test or nonintervention/control side. Oral dexamethasone 4 mg was administered on the test side an hour before the surgery. All of the participants were unaware of the medication studied, and only 1 surgeon, blinded to the medication intake, performed all of the procedures. Anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated using the clinical parameters of mouth opening, swelling, and rescue analgesic medication intake to control pain. The statistical analysis was blinded to the allocation groups, and a significance value P < .05 was adopted for all the tests.

RESULTS

Dexamethasone reduced the mean of rescue analgesic medication intake by 5 times (P = .002). Facial swelling was lower on the test side by 72h postsurgery in comparison with the control side (P = .036). No significant difference in mouth opening was found between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Preemptive use of oral dexamethasone 4 mg proved to be effective in controlling pain and reducing the need for rescue medication and had a beneficial effect in reducing swelling during a short postoperative period.

The Impact of Prior Use of Corticosteroid to Dental Extraction on Oral Health-Related Quality-of-Life and Clinical Outcomes: A Randomized Clinical Trial

PURPOSE

To evaluate the impact of prior use of corticosteroids before dental extractions on oral health-related quality-of-life (OHRQoL).

METHODS

A randomized and triple-blind (patient, surgeon, and examiner) clinical trial was designed. The individuals were randomly allocated to 2 groups: test and placebo. In the test group, 2 capsules of 4 mg dexamethasone were administered orally. In the placebo group, subjects received 2 capsules with the same characteristics. In both groups, the administration took place 1 hour before the procedure. OHRQoL was assessed by the Brazilian version of Oral Health Impact Profile 14 (OHIP-14). The OHIP-14 questionnaire and the assessment methods for clinical parameters were collected preoperatively and postoperatively. Multilevel linear regression models fitted the associations between preoperative use of corticosteroids and overall and domain-specific OHIP-14 scores over time.

RESULTS

One hundred fourteen patients were selected for the study; however, 21 were excluded for not returning to postoperative control on the seventh day, resulting in 93 patients assessed (test = 44 and placebo = 49). The pain had a negative impact on OHRQoL (P < .01); however, the use of the drug had no statistically significant influence on OHRQoL (P = .62) and the clinical outcomes of pain (P = .63), mouth aperture (P = .05), and edema (P = .69).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of the 8 mg dexamethasone administered orally before the procedure was not effective on the improvement of the quality-of-life of patients undergoing dental extraction. However, using the medication seems to result in an improvement in the postoperative period of patients who had impacted teeth. Further research involving the analysis of OHRQoL must be performed, and other dosages and means of administration must be tested.

Combination of etodolac and dexamethasone improves preemptive analgesia in third molar surgery: a randomized study

OBJECTIVE

This randomized, controlled, triple-blind, crossover clinical trial aimed to investigate the use of dexamethasone (DEX) and etodolac (ETO) as preemptive analgesia before mandibular third molar extraction.

METHODS

Patients were divided into three groups (n = 20 teeth each) based on the drug administered: DEX 8 mg (DEX); DEX 8 mg plus ETO 300 mg (DEX + ETO), and ETO 300 mg (ETO). Paracetamol (750 mg) tablets were administered as rescue analgesics. Pain was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h and 7 days postoperatively. Edema and trismus were assessed 48 and 72 h postoperatively. All data were subjected to statistical analysis, where a P value < .05 indicated statistical significance.

RESULTS

VAS scores and the number of rescue analgesics taken were lower in the DEX + ETO group than in the other groups (P < .001 and P = .014, respectively). At 48 h, trismus was similar among all groups; however, the ETO group showed the highest trismus 7 days postoperatively (P < .05). Edema was similar among all groups at all time points (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

The combined use of the anti-inflammatory drugs, DEX and ETO, resulted in better pain control and the need for fewer rescue analgesics than the use of either drug alone, which indicated their effectiveness in mandibular third molar extractions preoperatively.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This drug combination can lead to less pain, edema, and trismus and reduce the use of rescue analgesics in the postoperative period.

Effects of kinesiology tape after enucleation of mandibular dentigerous cysts

Objectives

Kinesiology tape (KT) creates a pulling force on the skin, thus improving blood and lymph flow by alleviating hemorrhage and congestion of lymphatic fluid. The authors hypothesized that the use of KT could be beneficial for the management of complications after head and neck surgery and designed this study to evaluate the effects of KT on swelling, pain, and trismus after enucleation of mandibular dentigerous cysts with third molar extraction.

Materials and Methods

Forty patients who underwent enucleation of a dentigerous cyst with extraction of the mandibular third molar were selected. The patients were randomized into two groups (n=20 each): a KT group, where KT was applied after surgery in addition to basic postoperative care, and a control group, where patients received basic postoperative care without KT application. Swelling, pain, and trismus were evaluated before surgery (T0) and on postoperative days 1 (T1), 2 (T2), and 3 (T3). Cyst volume, gauze weight for assessing bleeding, and operation time were recorded.

Results

There was a significant difference between the two groups in the change in swelling up to T1 and the change in swelling between T1 and T2. The maximum swelling in the KT group was significantly less than that in the No-KT group and maximum swelling appeared faster in the KT group than in the No-KT group. Both groups showed a mild pain response but there was no significant difference between the two groups. There was no significant difference on interincisal distance change between the two groups. There were no correlations between cyst volume, bleeding, operation time, and maximum swelling.

Conclusion

KT can effectively manage facial swelling after oral and maxillofacial surgeries such as cyst enucleation and third molar extraction, thus improving postoperative patient satisfaction levels and quality of life.

Evaluation of the effects of concentrated growth factors or advanced platelet rich-fibrin on postoperative pain, edema, and trismus following lower third molar removal: A randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of concentrated growth factors (CGF) and advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) on edema, pain, and trismus after mandibular third molar surgery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients were randomly divided into A-PRF, CGF and control groups. After extraction of the third molars, A-PRF and CGF were prepared and applied to the extraction sockets in study groups, while nothing was applied to the control group. Edema was measured from 5 reference points, including tragus, labial commissure, soft tissue pogonion, lateral corner of the eye/lateral canthus and angulus mandible. Trismus measured as the distance between the right lower and upper central incisors. Trismus and edema were measured preoperatively, and on postoperative 2nd and 7th days. Pain evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) between 6th hour and 7th day after surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 75 patients, 25 in each group, were included in the study. The change in tragus to labial commissure measurements showed a significant difference between baseline-7th days among control and CGF groups (P=0.038). Significant differences observed between the tragus to pogonion measurements at baseline-7th days among the control-CGF groups (P=0.014), and A-PRF-CGF groups (P=0.038). Secondary outcome variables trismus, pain, and analgesic consumption showed no significant differences among the groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that A-PRF and CGF seem to have no positive effects on pain, edema, and trismus after third molar surgery.

Effect of preemptive dexamethasone and etoricoxib on postoperative period following impacted third molar surgery - a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare the anti-inflammatory effects of dexamethasone and etoricoxib after third molar extraction.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective, randomized, controlled, split-mouth study was conducted. 19 volunteers were allocated randomly to receive 90mg etoricoxib 1 hour prior to the procedure or 4mg intramuscular dexamethasone immediately after anesthesia. Baseline measurements were obtained preoperatively, and subsequent assessments were made on immediate postoperative, at 72 hours and 7 days after surgery to measure postoperative facial swelling by use of linear measurements, interincisal mouth opening width and visual analog scale score for pain. The amount of analgesics consumed was recorded. Descriptive statistics and the independent-samples t-test were used to compare the two groups at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

Dexamethasone was effective in the control roasted edema for measurements of the mandibular angle - wing of the nose and mandibular angle - labial commissure 72 hours after surgery. And for the measurement mandibular angle - mentum, in the time of 72 hours and 7 days. There was no statistically significant difference in relation to pain and trismus.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering significant results for some measures of the variable edema for the group that used intramuscular dexamethasone and the difference without statistical significance between groups for the other variables studied, we seem to reflect the intramuscular indication of the corticosteroid in a single dosage in relation to the use of etoricoxib as pre-emptive medication.

Evaluation of the efficacy of celecoxib and ibuprofen on postoperative pain, swelling, and mouth opening after surgical removal of impacted third molars: a randomized, controlled clinical trial

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of celecoxib and ibuprofen in reducing postoperative sequelae following the surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. Ninety-eight subjects who needed surgical extraction of an impacted mandibular third molar were selected for the study. All subjects were randomly allocated to receive one of the following treatments twice a day for 5days after surgery: placebo (n=32), ibuprofen (n=33), or celecoxib (n=33). The primary outcome chosen was postoperative pain, which was evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) score recorded by each patient. The secondary outcomes chosen were changes in postoperative swelling and maximum mouth opening values compared to preoperative ones. Compared to placebo, treatment with celecoxib and ibuprofen resulted in improvements in the primary outcome. Furthermore, when compared to the other groups, patients in the celecoxib group showed a significant reduction in postoperative pain scores at 6h (P<0.001), 12h (P=0.011), and 24h (P=0.041) after surgery. Regarding swelling and maximum mouth opening values, there were no significant differences between the groups at each follow-up session. This study demonstrated that treatment with celecoxib decreased the incidence and severity of postoperative pain following third molar surgery compared to ibuprofen and placebo.

Efficacy of a drug composed of herbal extracts on postoperative discomfort after surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar: a randomized, triple-blind, controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated and compared the effectiveness of a phytotherapeutic drug composed of herbal extracts on postsurgical discomfort after mandibular third molar surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty-two patients requiring the surgical removal of a mandibular third molar were randomly assigned to receive placebo (group 1), ibuprofen (group 2), and a phytotherapeutic drug (composed of baicalin, 190 mg; bromelain, 50 mg; escin, 30 mg) (group 3). Drugs were administered after tooth extraction twice a day for 5 days. The primary outcome, pain, was evaluated using a visual analogue scale at 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 7 and 10 days after surgery. The secondary outcomes were the changes in maximum mouth opening and facial contours (mm) between baseline and at 24 h, 72 h, and 7 and 10 days after surgery.

RESULTS

Compared to the baseline, all treatments demonstrated an improvement in the primary and secondary outcomes. Moreover, compared to groups 1 and 2, patients in group 3 yielded a significant reduction of the postoperative pain score at 12 h (p < 0.001), 24 h (p = 0.010), and 48 h (p = 0.048) after surgery. The mean reduction of the swelling and trismus was similar between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that a postoperative administration of a phytotherapeutic drug was found to be effective in postoperative pain management after the surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The phytotherapeutic drug composed of herbal extract determined a decrease in the severity of postoperative pain compared to ibuprofen and placebo.