Modern Approaches to Pain and Inflammation Control in Oral Surgery

The following postoperative complications are related to surgical trauma and inflammation: pain, edema and trismus. They are managed with an analgetic foundational drug, a suitable anti-inflammatory (adjuvant) and attention to functional recovery. A clinical guideline, systematic reviews and evidence mapping were used to synthesize ten sources of literature, focusing on mandibular third molar surgery. NSAID (s) with or without acetaminophen is recommended as primary analgesics following extraction and routine opioid prescribing is discouraged. The results for preemptive dosing, corticosteroid, combined, cryotherapy and photobiomodulation are more variable and sometimes less certain due to the use of less consistent and less reliable methods and studies. The intensity of pain, facial swelling and opening of the mouth should be assessed separately. Patient-specific factors should take into account contraindications, procedure complexity, timing of treatment and the clinical distinction between expected inflammatory reaction and a postoperative complication