Primary closure after surgical extraction of mandibular third molar with or without tube drain: A prospective study

INTRODUCTION: The surgical removal of impacted third molars is considered one of the most frequent procedures in oral and maxillofacial surgery. The utilization of drain is suggested for the reduction of postoperative complications, because it permits the drainage of the fluids located in the tissue spaces. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective randomized clinical study was conducted with 30 patients each in two groups undergoing surgical extraction of mandibular third molars with and without drain. For the group with drain, a small no. 8 size rubber drain was used. Patients were evaluated for postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus. RESULT: The trismus was greater (highly significant with P < 0.001) on the first, third, and seventh postoperative days in the control group. When swelling was being evaluated, highly significant statistical difference was observed between the two groups on the first and third postoperative days (P < 0.001), but on the seventh postoperative day, there was no statistically significance (P > 0.05). On comparison of postoperative pain, there was no statistically significant difference between any follow up days. CONCLUSION: Use of tube drain is effective in reducing the postoperative discomfort in terms of pain, swelling and trismus after surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar.