Corticosteroids use in controlling pain, swelling and trismus after lower third molar surgery

Objectives: A study is made of corticosteroid use in controlling pain, swelling and trismus after lower third molar surgical removal. Material and methods: A Medline search and review was made of all randomized and controlled clinical trials on the effects of corticosteroids upon pain, swelling and trismus after lower third molar surgery. The review was limited to those studies published in the last 10 years. Of the 20 initially considered articles, 6 were finally excluded. Results: A total of 14 articles were included. In 5 of the studies, corticosteroid use resulted in statistically significant reductions in pain after third molar removal. In 7 of the 11 articles that analyzed the effect of corticosteroid use upon postoperative swelling, such treatment was seen to be effective. In 8 of the 11 articles that analyzed the effect of corticosteroid use upon trismus, significant benefit was observed. Conclusion: The results of the analysis of the benefits derived from corticosteroid use in relation to pain, swelling and trismus following third molar surgical extraction, and the few side effects observed after the short-term use of such medication, point to corticosteroids as a treatment option to be taken into account in such patients.