Kinesio taping use to reduce pain and edema after third molar extraction surgery: A randomized controlled split-mouth study.

Objective: Evaluating Kinesio Taping (KT) use to reduce pain and edema in individuals subjected to surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars.

Materials And Methods: Thirteen individuals (5 men and 8 women, mean age: 23.25 years) were subjected to mutual extraction of two mandibular third molars based on the same surgical protocol and pharmacological approach. All individuals were subjected to kinesio taping application on one side of patients' face (test group - KT), in the immediate postoperative period. The other side of the face was not subjected to KT application, and it was used as control (No KT). An examiner assessed individuals' pain and edema based on the visual analog scale (VAS) and on the Todorović-Marković method, respectively, at the preoperative, immediate postoperative, and second and fifth postoperative days. Statistical analysis was based on the Scheirer-Ray-Hare test.

Results: Edema (48 h and 120 h after surgery) and pain intensity (24 h, 48 h and 120 h after surgery) were lower on the KT side (p < 0.05). Moreover, edema and pain intensity fully reduced on the KT side 120 h after surgery (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Kinesio taping adopted in the current study was effective in reducing edema and postoperative pain in patients subjected to oral surgery.

Clinical Relevance: KT enables patients to experience a more comfortable postoperative period and helps improving their quality of life.