Efficacy of two dosages of dexamethasone administered by submucosal injection on postoperative sequelae after third molar surgery: A retrospective study.

Purpose: A retrospective clinical study was performed to compare the post-operative sequelae of the submucosal administration of two different low dosages of dexamethasone, after the surgical extraction of lower third molars.

Methods: Data regarding edema, trismus, pain and analgesic consumption were collected from 150 subjects, selecting three equal groups (n= 50): a control group with no administered dexamethasone (G1); submucosal injection of dexamethasone 2 mg/0.5 ml (G2) and submucosal injection of dexamethasone 4 mg/1 ml (G3). Collected data were evaluated at three different time points: T₀ before surgery, T₁ on the third day after surgery and T₂ on the 7th day after surgery. Patients' gender and age were also considered for statistical purposes.

Results: The effects on facial swelling reduction were statistically significant in G2 at T₁ in the male subgroup. With trismus, the differences between the time points considered were statistically significant in G2 in the subgroup of subjects younger than 25 years old. Differences in analgesics taken were statistically significant when G1 and G2 were compared at T₁.

Clinical Significance: The submucosal injection of 2 mg/0.5 ml of dexamethasone to subjects younger than 25 years old is enough to reduce trismus. For females and subjects older than 25 years old, it is preferable to administer at least 4 mg of dexamethasone to reduce edema.