Abstract
ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an iodine tampon on postoperative discomfort after surgical removal of a mandibular third molar.Material and methodsPatients were randomly assigned to two groups: one group received an alveolar iodine-containing tampon in the extraction socket (N = 44), and the other group used a disposable syringe (Monoject®) to rinse the wound (N = 43). Postoperative discomfort was assessed with the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire, Pain Intensity Numerical Rating Scale (PI-NRS), and questions about self-care and discomfort.ResultsThis study included 87 patients (52 women and 35 men) with an average age of 26.47 years (SD, 6.36). The mean OHIP-14 sum scores were significantly lower in the iodine tampon group compared with the Monoject® syringe group. Mean PI-NRS scores significantly differed between the iodine tampon group (3.33; SE, 0.27) and Monoject® syringe group (4.46; SE, 0.27) (F (1, 85) = 8.16, p < 0.01), with no interaction effect between time and PI-NRS (F (6, 510) = 1.26, p = 0.28). Patients in the iodine tampon group reported less postoperative discomfort.ConclusionsInsertion of an iodine-containing tampon in the postoperative socket reduced the pain and impact on oral health-related quality of life during the first postoperative week and positively influenced postoperative sequelae.
Highlights
Surgical removal of an impacted lower third molar violates the integrity of soft tissues and bone, resulting in postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus and negatively impacts quality of life (QoL) [1,2,3,4,5]
In a recent cross-over design study of our research group, we found that insertion of an iodinecontaining tampon into the extraction alveolus had a positive effect on oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL), pain, trismus, and several self-care behaviors during the first postoperative week after surgical removal of a mandibular third molar [8]
Correlation analysis (Pearson’s) for the age variable and the seven mean Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) sum scores did not reveal statistically significant correlations; age was not included as a covariate in follow-up analyses
Summary
Surgical removal of an impacted lower third molar violates the integrity of soft tissues and bone, resulting in postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus and negatively impacts quality of life (QoL) [1,2,3,4,5]. Antibiotic prophylaxis, chlorhexidine (CHX) mouth rinses, and local corticosteroids have been used to avoid infectious complications and ameliorate pain after mandibular third molar surgery [9,10,11,12,13]. Different studies have reported a beneficial effect of a locally applied gauze drain after the surgical removal of a mandibular third molar on alveolar osteitis, pain, and swelling [14,15,16,17]. In a recent cross-over design study of our research group, we found that insertion of an iodinecontaining tampon into the extraction alveolus had a positive effect on oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL), pain, trismus, and several self-care behaviors during the first postoperative week after surgical removal of a mandibular third molar [8]
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