Effect of dexamethasone and dipyrone on lingual and inferior alveolar nerve hypersensitivity following third molar extractions: preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of dexamethazone and dipyrone on sensory changes in the innervation territories of the inferior alveolar, infraorbital, and lingual nerves caused by third molar extractions.


METHODS
Fourteen patients (8 men and 6 women) were divided randomly into 2 groups. The first group received dipyrone preoperatively, while the second group received dipyrone and dexamethazone preoperatively. All patients in the study received a prophylactic preoperative dose of amoxicillin (500 mg) as well as dipyrone postoperatively. In all patients, a single mandibular third molar was removed, while in 2 patients the contralateral third molar was removed at a subsequent time. Electrical detection thresholds were assessed in the inferior alveolar, lingual, and infraorbital nerve regions prior to surgery and 2 and 8 days following surgery. The level of perioperative pain, difficulty of extraction, and distance of molar root apices from the inferior alveolar nerve canal were also assessed.


RESULTS
Patients who received only dipyrone had significantly reduced lingual and inferior alveolar nerve electrical detection thresholds 2 days after surgery, which returned to nearly baseline values by the eighth day postoperatively. In patients who received dexamethasone, no significant reduction in the electrical detection threshold was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative treatment with dexamethasone and dipyrone but not dipyrone alone prevents sensory hypersensitivity following third molar extraction.
Barron
Robert P
RP
Department of Oral Medicine, Hebrew University School of Dental Medicine, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. rbarron@rogers.com
Benoliel
Raphael
R
Zeltser
Raphael
R
Eliav
Eli
E
Nahlieli
Oded
O
Gracely
Richard H
RH
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020209:Cranial Nerve Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004177:Dipyrone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008036:Lingual Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D061222:Lingual Nerve Injuries; D008297:Male; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery; D009443:Neuritis / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009915:Orbit / Q000294:innervation; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects*; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D061221:Trigeminal Nerve Injuries
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004177:Dipyrone; D003907:Dexamethasone