Evaluation of Conventional Blades Versus Diode Laser Incisions on Postoperative Sequelae and Healing After Extraction of the Mandibular Third Molar.

Abstract BACKGROUND Postoperative morbidity heightens patients' apprehension towards the surgical extraction of the mandibular third molar. Various innovative strategies like lasers have been created to reduce these negative effects and there is limited research comparing the effectiveness and wound healing between laser and conventional methods of incision. PURPOSE To evaluate the conventional scalpel versus diode laser incisions on postoperative sequelae and healing after extraction of mandibular third molar surgery. STUDY DESIGN A prospective, randomized and comparative study was conducted in the outpatient clinic. A total no. of 36 patients, 18 in scalpel group (group A) and 18 in Laser group (group B) among individuals of a specific age range of 18 to 40 years requiring extraction of impacted mandibular third molar which were within the Pederson difficulty index range of 3 to 7 and free from any infection. INDEPENDENT VARIABLE Type of incision (conventional blade or diode laser); Patient demographics (gender); MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE Post-operative swelling, pain, trismus and wound healing was evaluated on 1 st , 3 rd and 7 th day. COVARIATES Preoperative pain level; Preoperative facial swelling, Surgical accessibility and Intraoperative precision. ANALYSES The intergroup comparison between the two groups was done using Independent t test with p < 0.05 RESULTS 36 outpatients (44.4% males and 55.6% females), 18 in each group, among individuals of a specific age range of 18 to 40 years were included in this study. Compared to scalpel incision, laser incision was associated with statistically lower pain scores on 3 rd post operative day (p=0.001)and edema on postoperative days 3 rd (p=0.023) and 7 th (p=0.028). Mouth opening was statistically non - significant by postoperative. Scalpel incisions had shown better healing in 3 rd and 7 th postoperative days when compared with laser incisions (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION Our data indicate that utilizing laser incisions on impacted mandibular third molars has a beneficial impact on postoperative problems such as pain, edema, and trismus.The laser incision offered excellent accessibility and visibility to the operative site. The only disadvantage of the diode laser was delayed wound healing. The healing was faster and excellent after being incised with a conventional scalpel.