NCT07450638

Effect of Preoperative Long-Acting Corticosteroids on Pain, Swelling, and Trismus After Impacted Lower Third Molar Surgery

Efficacy of Preoperative Long-acting Corticosteroids on Postoperative Pain, Swelling, and Trismus Following Impacted Mandibular Third Molar Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Al Salam University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 35 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study evaluated whether giving a single dose of long-acting corticosteroids before wisdom tooth surgery reduces pain, facial swelling, and limited jaw opening (trismus) after surgery. Adult patients aged 18-35 undergoing impacted lower wisdom tooth removal were randomly assigned to receive either 8 mg dexamethasone or a placebo before surgery. Pain, swelling, and jaw mobility were measured at several time points after surgery. The study aimed to determine if preoperative corticosteroids improve recovery and reduce discomfort following surgery.

Detailed description

Surgical removal of impacted lower wisdom teeth often causes pain, swelling, and reduced jaw opening (trismus) due to tissue inflammation. This study examined whether giving a single dose of long-acting corticosteroids before surgery could reduce these postoperative problems. Adult patients aged 18-35 years who required surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars were randomly assigned to receive either 8 mg dexamethasone (treatment group) or a placebo (control group) 30 minutes before surgery. The study measured pain using a visual analog scale, facial swelling with standard facial landmarks, and jaw opening with calipers at multiple time points after surgery. Analgesic consumption was also recorded. The goal was to determine whether preoperative corticosteroid administration could improve recovery, reduce discomfort, and enhance patient comfort after third molar surgery. This information may help guide oral surgeons in postoperative care and improve outcomes for patients undergoing similar procedures.

Conditions

• Impacted Mandibular Third Molar
• Postoperative Pain
• Trismus
• Facial Swelling

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Dexamethasone 8 mg IM	Patients receive a single intramuscular injection of 8 mg dexamethasone 30 minutes before surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. This intervention is intended to reduce postoperative pain, facial swelling, and trismus. No additional steroids are allowed postoperatively.
DRUG	Normal Saline IM	Patients receive a single intramuscular injection of 2 mL normal saline 30 minutes before surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. This placebo control is used to compare the effect of preoperative dexamethasone on postoperative pain, facial swelling, and trismus.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-01-04
• Primary completion: 2026-04-04
• Completion: 2026-04-15
• First posted: 2026-03-05
• Last updated: 2026-03-05

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Egypt