Effects of pre and postoperative dexamethasone for control of pain, swelling and trismus after third molar surgery: a randomized, triple-blind clinical trial

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to establish the effects of pre-and postoperative administration of dexamethasone for upper and lower third molar surgery. A randomized, triple-blind clinical trial with a split-mouth design was conducted with a sample composed of 30 patients. Participants were divided in two groups: Group A (one dose of dexamethasone 12 hours after surgery) and Group B (one dose of placebo 12 hours after surgery). All patients received single dose of dexamethasone (8mg) and nimesulide (100mg) per oral route, one hour before surgery. The outcome variables were: pain, total number of analgesics taken, interval between analgesics, swelling and trismus. Those parameters were evaluated in different timepoints. Quantitative data were subjected to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test and compared by means of the paired t-test and ANOVA. Group A showed less selling and trismus 48h after surgery (p=0.167), but no statistical significant different were found. On assessment of postoperative pain 16 hours after surgery, the scores were higher in Group B (placebo) (p=0.031). One additional dose of dexamethasone administered in the postoperative period decreased the pain score and caused reductions in the facial swelling measurement and trismus.