Short-term clinical outcomes of two different flap techniques in impacted mandibular third molar surgery

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the influence of flap design on alveolar osteitis (AO) and postoperative side effects following third molar surgery.

Study design: This study was designed as a randomized single-blind clinical trial. The predictor variable was flap type. Envelope flap and modified triangular flap techniques were used. The primary outcome variable was AO. The secondary outcome variables were pain, swelling, and trismus. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ .05.

Results: Eighty patients with impacted mandibular third molars participated in the study. The envelope flap design was associated with a higher incidence of AO that was not statistically significant. On the second day, postoperative pain and swelling was observed as significantly different with the envelope flap technique.

Conclusions: The modified triangular flap had the advantage of less postoperative pain and swelling but had the disadvantage of AO.