Effectiveness of Resorbable Surgical Gelatin Sponge Following Impacted Mandibular Tooth Extraction: A Prospective Split Mouth Comparative Investigation - Abstract
Background: Post-operative pain is common complication following surgical extraction of impacted mandibular teeth. Absorbable Surgical Gelatin sponge is a hemostatic Agent commonly used in controlling bleeding in oral surgery. The specific aim of this study is to understand the efficacy and efficiency of absorbable surgical gelatin sponge in reducing post-operative complication after surgical extraction of impacted mandibular molars.
Materials and Methods: 30 patients who required bilateral surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molar were selected for the study through randomization one side was packed with absorbable gelatin sponge while the other was left empty prior to suturing. The patients were asked to fill a pamphlet handed to them post-surgery and score the three criteria from 0-2 for 7 days. The scoring was totaled and compared after 7 days.
Results: 30 patients with an average age 27years were selected, the experimental group showed significant reduction in pain t = 0.09, 0.05 < p < 0.1 and bleeding t = 0.276, p > 50 postoperatively for 7 days though there was no difference in the swelling. Healing of both the control and experimental group did not differ significantly at the end of 7 days. Conclusion: Using gelatin sponge in the extraction sockets of impacted third molars, when excessive bleeding is not present, reduces postoperative pain compared to non-packed control sites. This difference is statistically significant when gelatin sponge is used. Furthermore, the use of gelatin sponge does not significantly impede the healing process in clinical settings. There is a noticeable difference in pain reduction between the experimental and control groups.