Low-Temperature Saline Irrigation after 3rd molar surgery May Reduce Postoperative Pain: Study
Researchers have found in a new study that low-temperature saline irrigation after 3rd molar surgery may help reduce early postoperative pain and blunt the postoperative rise in serum C-reactive protein (sCRP), suggesting a potential reduction in early inflammatory response. However, it did not significantly improve facial swelling or trismus in this study. A study was done to evaluate the effect of low-temperature saline irrigation on postoperative clinical outcomes and salivary C-reactive protein (sCRP) levels after surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars.
This randomized, controlled, split-mouth clinical trial was conducted in 14 patients. The experimental side received saline irrigation at 0 to 4°C, whereas the control side received irrigation at room temperature (∼25°C). Postoperative pain, facial swelling, and trismus were assessed on postoperative days 1, 2, and 7. Unstimulated saliva was collected preoperatively and at 48 hours postoperatively for sCRP quantification.
Between-side comparisons were performed using paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests as appropriate. Changes in sCRP (T2-T0) were analyzed within and between sides. The effect size for Wilcoxon tests was calculated as r = Z/√N.
Pain on postoperative day 1 was significantly lower on the low-temperature irrigation side than on the control side (p = 0.021). No significant between-side differences were observed for pain on days 2 and 7, or for facial swelling and trismus at any follow-up time point. sCRP levels increased significantly at 48 hours postoperatively on both sides (p = 0.001). However, the increase in sCRP was smaller on the low-temperature irrigation side compared with the control side (p = 0.048).
Low-temperature saline irrigation may reduce early postoperative pain and attenuate the postoperative increase in sCRP, but did not demonstrate a beneficial effect on facial swelling or trismus in this study.
Reference:
Nguyen, Vu Khanh, et al. "Clinical Outcomes and Salivary C-Reactive Protein Levels Following Mandibular Third Molar Surgery With Cold Saline Irrigation: a Randomized Split-Mouth Clinical Trial." European Journal of Dentistry, 2026.
Keywords:
Low-Temperature, Saline, Irrigation, after, 3rd molar surgery, Reduce, Postoperative Pain, Study,Nguyen, Vu Khanh
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