Abstract

The aim of the present study was to establish the effects of pre- and postoperative administration of dexamethasone for upper and lower third molar surgery. A randomized, triple-blind clinical trial with a split-mouth design was conducted with a sample composed of 30 patients. Participants were divided in two groups: Group A (one dose of dexamethasone 12 hours after surgery) and Group B (one dose of placebo 12 hours after surgery). All patients received single dose of dexamethasone (8mg) and nimesulide (100mg) per oral route, one hour before surgery. The outcome variables were: pain, total number of analgesics taken, interval between analgesics, swelling and trismus. Those parameters were evaluated in different timepoints. Quantitative data were subjected to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test and compared by means of the paired t-test and ANOVA. Group A showed less selling and trismus 48h after surgery (p=0.167), but no statistical significant different were found. On assessment of postoperative pain 16 hours after surgery, the scores were higher in Group B (placebo) (p=0.031). One additional dose of dexamethasone administered in the postoperative period decreased the pain score and caused reductions in the facial swelling measurement and trismus.

Keywords

corticosteroids, third molar surgery, dexamethasone, swelling, pain, trismus, molar surgery, oral surgery, hypersensitivity, elevator