A randomized clinical evaluation of ultrasound bone surgery versus traditional rotary instruments in lower third molar extraction

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare, in a randomized and controlled clinical trial, the use of ultrasound bone surgery devices and the use of rotary instruments in lower third molar extractions.

Materials and methods: We selected 26 patients (12 women and 14 men) for this study; the mean age was 31.2 years (range, 24-45 years). A randomized clinical trial was planned. Patients in the control group received treatment with the conventional rotary instruments; patients in the test group received treatment with the ultrasound bone surgery tools. Twenty-six third molars were allocated to the test and control groups according to a computer-generated randomization list. All the surgical procedures were performed by the same surgeon. Pain, trismus, cheek swelling, and number of analgesics taken were evaluated at baseline (before surgery) and at the first-, third-, fifth-, and seventh-day visits.

Results: Pain levels (evaluated on a visual analog scale) were higher in the control group when compared with the ultrasonic group; however, no statistically significant differences were found. On the contrary, the number of analgesics taken in the test group was significantly lower when compared with the control group. The occurrence of trismus was significantly higher in the control group when compared with the test group. The clinical values of cheek swelling were higher in the rotary group when compared with the ultrasound group at the fifth-day visit.

Conclusion: This study showed that the use of ultrasound bone surgery for third molar extraction significantly reduced the occurrence of postsurgical trismus, the occurrence of swelling, and the number of analgesics taken after surgery.