Postoperative interventions to reduce inflammatory complications after third molar surgery: review of the current evidence

Inflammatory complications such as pain, swelling, trismus, infection and alveolar osteitis have an adverse affect on the quality of life of patients after third molar removal. This review presents the current evidence on postoperative strategies to reduce these complications. A literature search wa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Australian dental journal 2017-12, Vol.62 (4), p.412-419
Main Authors: Cho, H, Lynham, AJ, Hsu, E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Complications
Dentistry
Dry Socket - prevention & control
Humans
Inflammation - prevention & control
Molar, Third - surgery
oral surgery
Pain, Postoperative - prevention & control
postoperative
Postoperative Complications - prevention & control
third molar(s)
Tooth Extraction - adverse effects
wisdom teeth
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Summary:Inflammatory complications such as pain, swelling, trismus, infection and alveolar osteitis have an adverse affect on the quality of life of patients after third molar removal. This review presents the current evidence on postoperative strategies to reduce these complications. A literature search was performed to identify articles published in English between 2000 to 2016 using the following keywords: third molar(s), wisdom tooth/teeth, pain, swelling, trismus, infection, alveolar osteitis and dry socket. In total, 221 papers were reviewed. Methods published included analgesics, antibiotics, corticosteroids, mouthwashes, topical gels, cryotherapy and ozone therapy. This review highlights the variability in evidence available and summarizes the findings from best‐quality evidence. In conclusion, paracetamol and ibuprofen are efficacious in managing postoperative pain. Corticosteroids and antibiotics should only be used in selected cases. Chlorhexidine reduces alveolar osteitis. The benefits of cryotherapy, postoperative irrigation and ozone gel are yet to be established.
ISSN:0045-0421
1834-7819
DOI:10.1111/adj.12526