Effects of ozone therapy on postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus caused by surgical extraction of unerupted lower third molars: a double-blinded split-mouth randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

Background: Third molar extraction surgery is a common procedure, but it results in pain, swelling, and trismus. Ozone therapy (Oz) has emerged as a viable option for pain control and as an option to limit bacterial growth, improving the wound healing. Then, this randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of adjunctive use of ozone therapy (OzT) in managing pain, swelling, and trismus after lower third molar removal.

Material and methods: A split-mouth design was selected, enrolling 60 patients. There were 2 groups (Sham and OzT). The same surgeon performed all procedures. The pain was evaluated using the VAS scale and the number of paracetamol tablets taken. The quality of life was assessed using the OHIP-14 questionnaire. The data were statistically evaluated.

Results: 120 surgical procedures were performed on 60 participants (34 males [56%] and 26 females [44%]). Regarding the number of paracetamol tablets taken, the test group had a significantly lower consumption (p<0.002). In addition, the test group presented a significantly lower pain score on days 1, 3, and 5 postoperatively, with no difference between groups on the 7th day (p<0.0145). Both sides presented postoperative edema, which regressed from day 5 (no significant difference). A similar case scenario was observed for mouth opening. OzT impacted the patient's quality of life (OHIP-14, p<0.05), favoring ozone therapy.

Conclusions: The results demonstrated that OzT is an effective adjunctive strategy for reducing postoperative pain following the extraction of lower third molar teeth.