Kaleem and Balamurugan R*
Aims and objectives: To evaluate and compare pain, swelling and trismus in patients undergoing surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar by complete odontectomy or tooth sectioning.
Materials and methods: The study population/subjects were 84 patients that present to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College and Hospital, India, Chennai for extraction of impacted mandibular third molars under local anaesthesia. The study population/subjects were divided into two groups. Patients in group I underwent surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar without tooth sectioning. In group II patients underwent surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar with tooth sectioning. All the patients were assessed for pain using visual analogue scale as well as swelling and trismus at postoperative intervals of 1, 3 and 7 days. Statistical analysis used: ANOVA test using SPSS software.
Results: The results of our study have shown that sectioning of tooth had definite lessening effect on post-operative pain, swelling and trismus in group II when compared with group I. Though the reduction of pain and trismus were minimal, a notable reduction in the amount of swelling was observed with statistically significant results P<0.05, while pain and trismus on 1st postoperative day showed no significant results in group II.
Conclusion: Our study concludes that sectioning of tooth is the most preferred method during surgical removal of impacted third molar, thereby minimising post-operative complications.
