Effect of Submucosal Injection of Dexamethasone on Post-operative Sequelae of Third Molar Surgery

Abstract

Introduction: This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of a single pre-operative sub-mucosal injection of dexamethasone after third molar surgery to see the effects on post-operative discomfort. 

Methods: This study was a prospective, double-blind, randomized, clinical trial. The subjects were  forty patients who underwent surgical removal of the mandibular impacted third molar under local anesthesia and after being randomly assigned to receive either an 8 mg dexamethasone as submucosal injection or a normal saline injection into the lower buccal vestibule adjacent to the third molar. The maximum interincisal distance and facial contours were measured at the baseline and post-surgically on Day 2 and 7. Post-operative pain was evaluated subjectively using a visual analog scale and objectively by counting the number of analgesic tablets used. All subjects were operated upon by the same investigator to minimize the difference from inter-operator variability.  

Results: There was a signicant difference in the measurements of the degree of swelling and trismus between the two groups on the 2nd post-operative day. In contrast, there was no statistically signicant difference between the groups on the 7th post-operative day. The test group also used fewer analgesics post-operatively. 

Conclusions: Submucosal injection of dexamethasone after third molar surgery is effective in reducing postoperative swelling and trismus. It also delays the onset of post-operative pain.

Keywords: dexamethasone, submucosal injection, third molar, third molar surgery, third molar extraction