Comparative Evaluation of a Single Dose Dexamethasone With and Without Analgesic on Postoperative Outcomes after Removal of Mandibular Third Molars
Author(s): Ramvihari Thota* and Senthilnathan Periasamy
Abstract
Aim: The goal of this study was to see how a single dosage of dexamethasone and a combination of dexamethasone and ketorolac affected postoperative pain, trismus, and edoema following the removal of third molars. Materials and methods: The study looked at forty participants who were scheduled to have their lower third molars surgically removed. Two groups of patients were formed. After surgery, each patient in the first group received 8 mg dexamethasone IV and 30 mg ketorolac IM. Each patient in the second group received 8 mg dexamethasone IV alone following surgery. Postoperative pain was evaluated by visual analogue scale along with facial swelling and trismus on postoperative days 3 and 7. Results: Both the dexamethasone and dexamethasone-ketorolac combinations suppressed pain at the sixth postoperative hour. In comparison to the dexamethasone group, the dexamethasone-ketorolac combination group lost less opening on postoperative days 3 and 7. At postoperative day 3, the dexamethasone and dexamethasone-ketorolac combination groups had decreased postoperative edoema. In comparison to the dexamethasone group, the dexamethasone-ketorolac combination group showed less edoema on postoperative day 7. Conclusion: The combination of a single dosage of dexamethasone and ketorolac has been found to be effective in the treatment of postoperative discomfort, trismus, and edoema after dental surgical procedures, and should be used when substantial soft tissue swelling is expected.