Abstract

CONTRIBUTION OF THE USE OF LONG-ACTING LOCAL ANESTHETICS AND LOW-POWER LASER AS POSTOPERATIVE ANALGESIC AFTER LOWER THIRD MOLAR SURGERY

Dr. Rohit Singh, Dr. Jazib Nazeer*, Dr. D. K. Singh, Dr. Stuti Kumari, Dr. Vaibhav Kamal and Dr. Vishwendra Pratap

ABSTRACT

Aims and Objectives -The aims of the study were to evaluate the postoperative analgesic efficacy, comparing long-acting and intermediate-acting local anesthetics; and to compare the use of low-power laser irradiation, which are claimed to be among the most successful aids in postoperative pain control. Material and Method -A two fold study of 50 patients of both sexes undergoing surgical extraction of lower third molar was conducted. In the first part of the study, 5 patients with bilaterally impacted lower third molars were treated in a double-blind crossover fashion; local anesthesia was achieved with 0.5% bupivacaine with 2% lidocaine with 1:80.000 epinephrine. In the second part of the study, 45 patients undergoing lower third molar surgical extraction with local anesthesia received postoperative low-power laser irradiation (15 patients) and a preoperative single dose of 100 mg diclofenac (15patients), or only regular postoperative recommendations (15 patients). Results -The results of the first part of the study showed a strikingly better postoperative analgesic effect of bupivacaine than lidocaine/epinephrine (11 out of 12; 4 out of 12, respectively, patients without postoperative pain). In the second part of the study, low-power laser irradiation significantly reduced postoperative pain intensity in patients premedicated with diclofenac, compared with the controls.

Keywords: The aims of the study were to evaluate the controls.