In individuals who have undergone mandibular third molar surgery, salivary α-amylase (SAA) seems to be an efficacious biomarker for objective evaluation of pain severity, as deciphered from a prospective cohort study. Investigators sought to examine the levels of pain and SAA in people prior to and following dental surgery.

Participants were divided into symptomatic and asymptomatic groups and were then recognized by the analgesic taken throughout the two-week study. Using visual analog scale (VAS), the levels of pain were assessed prior to therapy, when the anesthetic wore off, in morning (at 8.00 am), and at night (at 8.00 pm) for one week post-surgery. From mouth floor of volunteers, collection of saliva was done and SAA activity was estimated at different time points.

Compared to pretreatment pain, the levels of postoperative pain were greater. However, the levels  were not significantly distinct between the two groups. In symptomatic and asymptomatic groups, pain intensity was positively linked with SAA levels. Regarding number of analgesic agents taken and occurrence of postsurgery complications during the study, no inter-group differences were witnessed. Substantial correlations were noted between SAA activities and the VAS pain scale. Hence, there exists a positive association between pain levels and SAA activities during oral surgery.