Effect of pericoronal local injection of dexamethasone to prevent postoperative complication in the third molar impaction surgery

Abstract

Objective To assess the efficacy of dexamethasone (DM) pericoronal injection preoperative or postoperative for the control of swelling, pain and trismus caused by impacted mandibular third molars extraction. Methods Totally 240 consecutive patients requiring surgical removal of mandibular third molar were divided into three groups according to extraction of the impacted molars. Each of the three groups was split into experimental group (Dexamethasone pericoronal injection preoperative and postoperative) and control group (Non-pericoronal injection of Dexamethasone) , respectively. Swelling, pain and trismus were assessed by following-up evaluation at 1st, 3rd and 7th postoperative days. Results The statistics analysis showed similar result in the severity of swelling, pain and trismus at the experimental group and control group on 1st and 7th postoperative day. It was noticed that the experimental group promoted a better prognosis of swelling, pain and trismus. There was no difference between the groups of DM pericoronal injection preoperative and DM pericoronal injection postoperative on these parameters. Conclusion It appeared that DM pericoronal injection preoperative or postoperative would control swelling, pain and trismus following impacted mandibular third molar extraction. Key words: Molar, third, mandibular; Dexamethasone; Pericoronal local injection; Tooth extraction; Postoperative complication