The effect of pre-operative steroid injection on the relief of complaint after third molar surgery

Kim, Sung Dae; Kim, Kyung Wook

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar can result in considerable pain, swelling, and dysfunction that patient are incapable of work for several days. Factors contributing to post operative swelling, trismus and pain are complex. There is no question but that the procedure of surgically removing an impacted mandibular third molar is inherently a traumatic one and that some sequelae related to the inflammation response are expected. Meticulous surgical technique will minimize the sequelae of inflammation but will not prevent them. In an effort to minimize these sequelae the use of steroid was instituted.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Present study was to investigate the effect of one preoperative steroid injection in the masseter muscle to the patients(male 9, female 11) who needed prophylactic removal of bilateral , symmetrical, impacted wisdom teeth in the mandible on the complaint like swelling, trismus and pain. through Double-Blind test.
RESULTS
1. After 24 hours investigation, preoperative steroid injection had significantly reduced swelling with 39% and trismus with 57.5%. 2. 7th post operative day investigation, reduced swelling and trismus had shown, however, not significant. 3. There wasn't major difference from the group who took preve-ntive steroid in the visual analogue scale, the first analgesic intake time and the pain period. 4. There wasn't any adverse reaction of steroid for 20 patient From the above result, If the patients are not contraindication to steroid and pronounced post operative reaction can be expected the use of steroid to the surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar is recommended.