Is thermography useful for assessment of postoperative inflammation after surgical removal of mandibular third molars when methylprednisolone is administered and how does it correlate with patients' perception of swelling?

Purpose: To assess the differences in facial skin temperature after mandibular third molar removal when patients received methylprednisolone and placebo, respectively and to assess the correlation between patient-reported swelling using a visual analog scale (VAS) and facial skin temperature measured using thermography.

Patients And Methods: The study involved patients with 2 mandibular third molars with an indication for removal. The patients received either methylprednisolone or placebo in a randomized, crossover study design.