title: A Single Pre Operative Dose of Sub Mucosal Dexamethasone is Effective in Improving Post Operative Quality of Life in the Surgical Management of Impacted Third Molars: A Comparative Randomised Prospective Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to observe and compare the effects of dexamethasone on pain, swelling and trismus administered as one dose preoperatively sub mucosal (study group 2) versus intramuscular injection (study group 1) keeping control as those who received no dose of steroid in the management of third molar surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The group 2 (20 patients) is the study group in which all the patients had single dose of pre-operative sub mucosal dexamethasone of 4 mg/2 ml. The group 1 patients (20 patients) received single dose of pre-operative intra muscular dexamethasone of 4 mg/2 ml. The control group (20 patients) did not receive steroid in any form. The post operative pain, swelling and trismus were assessed for all the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The submucosal dexamethasone group showed marked improvement in the mouth opening in the follow ups than the intra muscular dexamethasone group. In those five cases of bilateral impaction, in study groups 1 and 2, the mouth opening was very much significant when sub mucosal dexamethasone was given.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pre operative use of submucosal dexamethasone effectively reduces the post operative pain, swelling and trismus showing statistically significant results. The number of post operative use of analgesic tablets taken by the patients in the study group 2 were less compared to the study group 1 and the control group showing clinically significant results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Vinayaka Mission's Sankaracharyar Dental College & Hospital, Sankari Main Road, Ariyanoor, Salem, 636308 India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saravanan
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Vinayaka Mission's Sankaracharyar Dental College & Hospital, Sankari Main Road, Ariyanoor, Salem, 636308 India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kannan
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Vinayaka Mission's Sankaracharyar Dental College & Hospital, Sankari Main Road, Ariyanoor, Salem, 636308 India.
authors.forename: Reena Rachel
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: John
authors.affiliation: Soudeswari Arts College, Salem, India.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nantha Kumar
keywords: Impacted 3rd molars; Oral surgery; Pain; Pre operative dexa; Sub mucosal dexamethasone; Swelling; Trismus