Abstract
Data sources
PubMed, Scopus, Medline and Cochrane Oral Health Group's Trials Register, CENTRAL. Limited to English language.
Study selection
Randomised control trials comparing preoperative steroids (in any formulation, dose or route) with placebo or no treatment in patients of any age, having extraction of one or more impacted third molars (under local or general anaesthesia or with intravenous sedation).
Data extraction and synthesis
Two authors reviewed titles and abstracts of all articles to select those that met the inclusion criteria. The studies were classified by active principles, doses and treatment administration route. No meta-analysis was conducted and a tabular descriptive summary was presented.
Results
There were 28 studies (one meta-analysis and 27 randomised control trials) included in the descriptive account and from which conclusions were drawn.
Conclusions
The use of corticosteroids in third molar extractions reduces the degree of trismus and inflammation. Parenteral administration seems to be more effective than oral administration as does taking the corticosteroids before rather than after surgery. Further comparative studies using different corticosteroids, doses and administration routes are needed to establish the most effective regime for reducing pain, trismus and inflammation after extraction of third molars.
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References
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Vegas-Bustamante E, Mico-Llorens J, Gargallo-Albiol J, Satorres-Nieto M, Berini-Aytes L, Gay-Escoda C . Efficacy of methylprednisolone injected into the masseter muscle following the surgical extraction of impacted lower third molars. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2008; 37: 260–263.
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Skjelbred P, Lakken P . Post-operative pain and inflammatory reaction reduced by injection of a corticosteroid: A controlled trial in bilateral oral surgery. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1982; 21: 391–396.
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Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Address for correspondence: Francisco Javier Herrera-Briones, Oral Surgery and Implantology, University of Granada, C/José Palanca 22, local, 29003 Málaga, Spain. E-mail: fjherrerabriones@hotmail.com
Herrera-Briones FJ, Prados Sánchez E, Reyes Botella C, Vallecillo Capilla M. Update on the use of corticosteroids in third molar surgery: systematic review of the literature. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2013; 116: e342-51. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2012.02.027. Epub 2012 Aug 17. PubMed PMID: 22902498.
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Beirne, O. Corticosteroids decrease pain, swelling and trismus. Evid Based Dent 14, 111 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ebd.6400968
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ebd.6400968
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