Systemic Use of Arnica Montana for the Reduction of Postsurgical Sequels following Extraction of Impacted Mandibular 3(rd) Molars: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND: Postsurgical sequels (PSS) are a group of complications commonly encountered following invasive dental surgical procedures such as bone grafting procedures, external sinus grafting, and 3(rd) molar extractions. These include pain, intraoral and extraoral bruising, and edema. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of arnica montana (AM) in the management of PSS following extraction of impacted mandibular 3(rd) molars. The investigators null hypothesis includes no significant role of AM in reducing PSS following dental extraction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The investigators implemented a case-control pilot study enrolling twenty-three patients with impacted mandibular 3(rd) molars. These patients were allocated to AM or control group. Baseline clinical measurements were collected and included: (1) length of the surgical procedure, (2) pain score, (3) maximum mouth opening, and (4) facial measurements to evaluate edema levels. Subjects in active group received systemic AM tablets following the manufacturer instructions. All study subjects were followed up on Days 2, 4, and 7. Data was analyzed for statistical significance. RESULTS: A total of 30 impacted mandibular 3(rd) molars were extracted, in which 22 completed with AM. There were 16 females, and the average age was 26 years. On Day 2, subjects in the AM group reported significantly lower VAS compared to control group (3.09 ± 2.22 versus 4.75 ± 1.28). In addition, bleeding, extraoral bruising, edema, and decrease in maximum mouth opening were significantly less reported in the AM group. CONCLUSIONS: This study describes the potential benefit of AM in reducing PSS following dental extractions.