Determination of Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Efficacy of Ascorbic Acid after Impacted Third Molar Surgery

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Ascorbic acid in relieving pain and inflammation following surgical removal of the third molar. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan to Mar 2023. Methodology: Sixty participants who required surgical extraction of the impacted third molar were included and segregated equally into two groups. Group-A received Amoxicillin with Clavulanic acid (625 mg) thrice a day and Metronidazole (400 mg) twice daily, while Group-B received Amoxicillin with Clavulanic acid (625 mg) thrice daily, Ascorbic acid (500 mg) twice daily and Metronidazole (400 mg) twice daily. Both the groups received Naproxen Sodium as per requirement (550 mg). Pain, trismus, facial swelling, and requirement of analgesic consumption were evaluated on the seventh post-operative day. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in reducing the intensity of pain (p<0.01), severity of facial swelling and trismus (p<0.01) and requirement of analgesic consumption between Group A and B (p<0.001). Conclusion: Our study concluded that Ascorbic acid after surgery effectively reduces pain intensity, the severity of facial swelling and trismus, and the requirement for analgesic consumption so that ascorbic acid may be used as an adjuvant therapy with other conventional drugs.