A subjective assessment of pain and swelling following the surgical removal of impacted third molar teeth using different surgical techniques

Abstract

Pain and swelling are two of the most common problems experienced by patients who have undergone surgical removal of impacted third molars. The purpose of this research project was to ascertain which of two surgical techniques was judged by patients to cause the least pain and swelling. The survey comprised 20 patients with bilaterally symmetrical impacted third molar teeth. In each patient, the third molars on one side were removed using a standard mucoperiosteal flap, while on the opposite side, a smaller access incision was used. The results of this survey show conclusively that when a small incision was used, with minimal reflection of the mucoperiosteum, the subjective evaluation of patients is that there is significantly less postoperative pain and swelling than when the larger standard incision is used.