IADR Abstract Archives
Submucosal Dexamethasone for Third Molar Surgery, a Randomized Controlled Trial.
Objectives: Third molar removal is one of the most common oral surgery procedures performed in Ireland. Pain, swelling and trismus are well documented, undesirable consequences following third molar removal. These sequelae have a negative impact on the patients’ quality of life post-operatively. We aim to compare the effect of a submucosal injection of dexamethasone on the post-operative pain experienced by the patient versus a control of standard surgical removal of a mandibular third molar on the contralateral side. We also analysed patient preference of treatment regime.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving patients undergoing surgical removal of bilateral, symetrically-impacted mandibular third molars under general anaesthetic in Cork University Hospital. Each patient acted as their own control in this split-mouth study, with all treatment carried out at one visit. All subjects received standard local anaesthetic bilaterally in the form of inferior alveolar block and long buccal infiltration with 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine. The site randomized for intervention received a 1ml submucosal injection of 4mg dexamethasone in the buccal vestibule adjacent to the lower third molar following administration of local anaesthetic. Both the patient and investigator were blinded to the intervention site.
Results: A total of seventy patients were recruited. Data was recorded with respect to patient demographics, third molar assessment, duration of surgery, pre- and post-operative pain including a 7-day pain diary. The primary outcome measure was patient-reported pain experienced at the intervention versus the control site.
Conclusions: Pain and inflammation are normal physiological responses to tissue trauma such as surgery. We aim to establish if a surgical protocol involving a 4mg submucosal injection of dexamethasone adjacent to the surgical site reduced post-operative pain experienced by the patient in the week following surgery.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving patients undergoing surgical removal of bilateral, symetrically-impacted mandibular third molars under general anaesthetic in Cork University Hospital. Each patient acted as their own control in this split-mouth study, with all treatment carried out at one visit. All subjects received standard local anaesthetic bilaterally in the form of inferior alveolar block and long buccal infiltration with 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine. The site randomized for intervention received a 1ml submucosal injection of 4mg dexamethasone in the buccal vestibule adjacent to the lower third molar following administration of local anaesthetic. Both the patient and investigator were blinded to the intervention site.
Results: A total of seventy patients were recruited. Data was recorded with respect to patient demographics, third molar assessment, duration of surgery, pre- and post-operative pain including a 7-day pain diary. The primary outcome measure was patient-reported pain experienced at the intervention versus the control site.
Conclusions: Pain and inflammation are normal physiological responses to tissue trauma such as surgery. We aim to establish if a surgical protocol involving a 4mg submucosal injection of dexamethasone adjacent to the surgical site reduced post-operative pain experienced by the patient in the week following surgery.