Melatonin to Reduce Pain and Swelling Following Wisdom Teeth Removal

An interesting article titled “The Effect of Local Melatonin Application Following the Removal of an Impacted Mandibular Third Molar” appears in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery written by Shaimaa Mohsen Refahee and et. al. The article seeks to measure the effect of applying melatonin in the socket of an impacted lower wisdom tooth with osteogenic activity, painkilling effect, and anti-inflammatory effect. A prior article exploring the use of melatonin after wisdom teeth extraction has been discussed on this site before see Should Melatonin be Used for Wisdom Teeth Surgery?. In the current article, the authors conducted a prospective, randomized, blinded trial comprised of patients who required removal of the impacted lower wisdom tooth. Melatonin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and promotes osteoblast differentiation and bone formation, which could potentially limit problems like intrabony defects and bone loss associated … Read more

Is it Safe to Not use Suture or Stitches When Removing Wisdom Teeth?

An interesting article titled “Sutureless socket technique after removalof third molars: a multicentric, open, randomized controlled trial” appears in BMC Oral Health written by Sarah Takadoum and et. al. (vol. 22, Article number: 256, 2022). The article conducted a clinical trial to compare pain following removal of impacted wisdom teeth with and without sutures also known as stiches. In the article the authors mentioned how questions remain regarding the best operative techniques during wisdom teeth surgery particularly the mucosal closure stage on impacted mandibular (lower) wisdom teeth. There are some who recommend suturing sockets after extraction, justfying this by saying that it limits bleeding and contamination of the postoperative site to thus improve the quality and speed of healing. There are others who prefer natural healing while the site is closed via cheek pressure. The authors set out to compare postoperative pain … Read more

Relationship between Body Mass Index and Wisdom Teeth Eruption

An interesting article titled “Relationship Between the Eruption of Third Molar Teeth and the Growing Status of the Assamese Inhabitants of a North-Eastern State of India” appears in Cureus in January 09, 2022, written by Putul Mahanta Sr. and et. al. The article seeks to evaluate the relationship between wisdom teeth eruption and a possible association with body mass index which can be used to monitor growth in children. The authors mention that teeth eruption is related to physical growth and is used to gauge child maturity as a biological marker. Factors such as hereditary, gender, nutrition and geographic location are known to influence teeth eruption. The authors set out to take into account that factors like BMI, genetic, nutritional, and geographical factors on wisdom teeth eruption. They conducted a cross sectional study of 1,060 patients with ages between 14 and … Read more

The wisdom behind wisdom teeth extraction

An interesting article titled “The wisdom behind the third molars removal: A prospective study of 106 cases” appears in the August 2021 of the Annals of Medicine and Surgery written by Kerdoud Ouassime and et. al. (vol. 68, pp. 102639). The article seeks evaluate the decision-making of wisdom teeth extractions and the epidemiological profile in a population of 106 cases. In the article the authors mention how debate continues about the beststrategies for the management of wisdom teeth. The majority of oral and maxillofacial surgeons continue to say that that most wisdom teeth are potentially pathological and should be extracted while others argue that only wisdom teeth third with associated pathology should be removed. To investigate the indications for wisdom teethextractions the authors conducted an analysis of 106 patients seem at their hospital between January 1, 2020 and January 1, … Read more

Articaine versus Bupivacaine Anesthetic Effectiveness for Lower Teeth Extraction

An interesting article titled “A Comparative Evaluation of Anesthetic Effectiveness of 4% Articaine vs 0.5% Bupivacaine for Lower Molar Tooth Extraction” appears in Cureus in December 16, 2022, written by Tenglikar P, Manas A, Sahoo A, et al. (vol. 14, no. 12, pp. e32611). The article discusses the differences in the effectiveness of two common local anesthesia agents used in dentistry to control pain. The authors set out to explore the the effectiveness of 0.5% bupivacaine with 4% articaine in lower tooth extraction based on duration of anesthesia, onset, and pain perception along with observing blood pressure and heart rate. Today lidocaine (lignocaine) is extensively used as a local anesthestic agent in dentistry to control pain. Other anesthestic agents exists including bupivacaine and articaine. The authors conducted a randomized controlled study of patients having lower teeth extracted from June 2017 to October … Read more