swelling

Comparing Ibuprofen and Etodolac on Swelling and Pain After Wisdom Teeth Removal

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An interesting article titled “Comparative Assessment of the Effect of Ibuprofen and Etodolac on Edema, Trismus, and Pain in Lower Third Molar Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial” appears in the 2016 Journal of Oral an Maxilofacial Surgery written by Julio Cesar Silva de Oliveira and et al. (vol. 74, pp. 1524-1530). The authors set out to explore if ibuprofen or etodolac is more effective in managing pain, swelling, and trismus after wisdom teeth removal. After wisdom teeth removal symptoms such as swelling, pain and limited mouth opening (trismus) can present. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed for the rapid relief of moderate pain in inflammatory conditions and soft tissue trauma. The mechanism of action of NSAIDs is the inhibition of the release of cyclooxygenase (COX), an enzyme that is responsible for the production of prostaglandins (PGs). Ibuprofen is an NSAID which inhibits COX-1 and COX-2. Etodolac differs from other NSAIDs by being … Read more

Using Povidone Iodine After Wisdom Teeth Removal

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The article titled “Effect of Low-Concentration Povidone Iodine on Postoperative Complications After Third Molar Surgery: A Pilot Split-Mouth Study” written by Hamid Mahmoud Hashemi and et. al. appears in the January 2015 issue of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (vol. 73, issue 1). The article discusses polyvinylpyrrolidone iodine which is a highly potent antiseptic solution known for its bactericidal activity. The authors performed a prospective randomized split mouth study of patients undergoing surgical removal of impacted mandibular wisdom teeth to evaluate whether diluted povidone iodine can be used as an irrigant and coolant and if it has any effect on common postoperative sequelae, including swelling, pain, and trismus. A total of 30 healthy patients (18 to 25 yr old) with bilateral impacted mandibular wisdom with similar position and degree of impaction were recruited at Tehran University in Iran … Read more

Should you use Sutures when having Wisdom Teeth Out?

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A study titled “A comparative study of the effect of suture-less and multiple suture techniques on inflammatory complications following third molar surgery” appears in the 2012 (in press) International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgry by O.D. Osunde, R.A. Adebola, and B. D. Saheeb. The study in Nigeria included 80 patients between the ages of 18 and 30 who had a mandibular third molar extracted. These patients were randomized into 2 treatment groups A: (suture-less – no sitches) and B: multiple sutures. The operation time was found to be roughly 3 minutes longer in the sutures group (statistically significant). In addition, the suture-less group experienced less pain, swelling, and trismus on post-operative days 1 and 2 (statistically significant). In the article the authors state: “The suture-less technique is cheap, saves operative time, minimizes manipulation of soft tissue and hence causes … Read more