@article{Deo_Shetty_2011, title={Effect of Submucosal Injection of Dexamethasone on Post-operative Sequelae of Third Molar Surgery}, volume={51}, url={http://jnma.com.np/jnma/index.php/jnma/article/view/247}, DOI={10.31729/jnma.247}, abstractNote={<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> 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. </p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> 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.  </p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> 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. </p> <p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> 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.</p> <p><strong>Keywords:</strong> dexamethasone, submucosal injection, third molar, third molar surgery, third molar extraction<br><br></p>}, number={182}, journal={Journal of Nepal Medical Association}, author={Deo, S P and Shetty, P}, year={2011}, month={Jun.} }