Effect of Saline Irrigation at Different Temperatures on Pain, Edema, and Trismus After Impacted Third Molar Surgery

PURPOSE

Lower impacted third molar surgery is a very common oral-maxillofacial surgical procedure, which has complications such as facial swelling, pain, and trismus. This clinical trial aimed to compare the intensity of postoperative morbidity (pain, facial swelling, and trismus) following the third molar surgery performed using saline irrigation at different temperatures (4 °C, 10 °C, or 25 °C).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This double-blind, single-center, split-mouth, randomized prospective clinical trial was conducted among 48 systemically and periodontally healthy patients who had bilaterally asymptomatic mandibular third molars. Patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups (n = 24) according to the temperature of the saline used. In each patient, one impacted third molar was determined as the test group (4 °C or 10 °C saline irrigation) and the other impacted third molar as the control group (25 °C saline irrigation). Trismus and swelling were evaluated on the 1^st, 3^rd, and 7^th days postoperatively. Pain perception by visual analog scale (VAS) and the total number of analgesics taken during the 7 postoperative days were recorded. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, the chi-square test, one-way analysis of variance, Duncan test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, the Dunn test, and the Friedman test (P < .05).

RESULTS

Forty-eight patients (28 females, 20 males) with a mean age of 24.6 ± 3.8 years were included in the study. The duration of operations was similar. VAS values of test groups [test group 1 (4 °C): 4.0, test group 1 (10 °C): 8.0] and the number of analgesics taken [test group 1 (4 °C): 0, test group 1 (10°) C): 3] were significantly lower (P < .001) than control groups (VAS, control group 1: 13.0, control group 2: 15.5, number of analgesic taken, control group 1: 5.5, control group 2: 4.0). Significant differences were found between the test groups in VAS values and the number of analgesics taken (P < .001). Also, the lowest trismus and facial swelling values were detected in the 4 °C test group at all time points (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

In the impacted third molar surgery, the use of cooled saline irrigation during bone removal may be a simple, inexpensive, and effective method for reducing early postoperative complaints.