The use of adjunctive corticosteroids was associated with improvement in patient-centered results following mandibular third molar surgery.

The use of adjunctive corticosteroids was associated with improvement in patient-centered results following mandibular third molar surgery.

For a relevant literature search, databases including Cochrane Central, Clinical Trials.gov, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed were thoroughly investigated. Following adjunctive corticosteroid treatment for third molar extraction, patient-centered outcomes including quality of life were the major endpoints. Only randomized controlled trials that were published in English were incorporated.

Out of 355, 12 studies were incorporated. Dexamethasone and Methylprednisolone both reduced post-surgical side effects such as edema, trismus, and pain and as a result, improved patient-reported outcomes. No significant difference was witnessed between drugs and routes of administration. None of the publications that were incorporated indicated any clinically meaningful difference between these two medications. In terms of corticosteroid administration routes,  Dexamethasone can be administered locally or intravenously, and the outcomes were better with both techniques than with only oral administration.

Corticosteroids, when used as adjunctive therapy, effectively improve patient-centered outcomes in dental surgery. Local injection of Dexamethasone in the buccal mucosal region of the third molar appears to be a simple, painless, and cost-effective treatment when compared to other delivery routes.