Antiinflammatory effect of dexamethasone and B vitamins in third molar surgery. Randomized clinical trial

Objective: To evaluate the antiinflammatory effect of the preoperative administration of the dexamethasone associated with B vitamins in mandibular third molar surgeries. Materials and methods: Experimental study, which consisted of 54 patients aged 18-25 years, who were assigned in two groups: control group was administered dexamethasone 4 mg and the experimental group, the association of dexamethasone 4 mg with vitamins B1, B6, B12; both intramuscularly before surgery. The anti-inflammatory effect was determined by the evaluation of pain and swelling. The pain was evaluated by means of the analogous visual scale, time for rescue analgesia and total analgesic consumption. The swelling was assessed by facial contour measurements. Results: It was demonstrated that the maximum intensity of pain was at 24 hours, being this significantly lower in the experimental group (4.0 vs. 5.8 cm), p<0.05; then the values were gradually decreasing at 48 hours, with the value in the experimental group being significantly lower (3.3 vs. 5.4 cm), p<0.05. The experimental group showed a longer time for rescue analgesia (2.48 vs. 2.08 h), p>0.05; and lower analgesic consumption (8.5 vs. 9.4 tab), p<0.05. The facial swelling increased progressively until the third day, without significant differences between the groups (45.4 vs. 46 cm), p>0.05. Conclusions: There was a significant higher analgesic activity and a significantly lower total analgesic consumption in the experimental group compared to the control group. There were no significant differences in swelling.