Piezoelectric Surgery Versus Conventional Osteotomy in Impacted Lower Third Molar Extraction: Evaluation of Perioperative Anxiety, Pain, and Paresthesia

Abstract

Purpose: Piezoelectric surgery is a safe and effective osteotomy technique that can decrease the perioperative complications and morbidity in oral-maxillofacial surgery. In this study, we compared piezoelectric surgery and a conventional rotatory technique in the removal of impacted lower third molars. Our primary endpoints were perioperative anxiety, pain, and postoperative discomfort while avoiding the drilling sound of the conventional instrument.

Materials and methods: Our study included 21 patients (14 female and 7 male patients) with bilateral, symmetrical impacted lower third molars. The 2 osteotomy techniques were randomly allocated to be performed on the right or left impacted lower third molars. The parameters evaluated were perioperative anxiety (State Trait Anxiety Inventory), postoperative pain (visual analog scale), operation time, and paresthesia.

Results: No significant difference was seen between piezoelectric surgery and conventional rotatory techniques in terms of pain, anxiety, and nerve damage. Preoperative anxiety was significantly higher in the female group than in the male group. No correlation was found between preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain. The operation time was significantly longer in the piezoelectric surgery group.

Conclusions: Piezoelectric surgery provides a precise, less aggressive osteotomy compared with conventional rotatory techniques. However, it has not been found to significantly reduce perioperative pain and anxiety.