Efficacy of Secondary Closure Technique After Surgical Removal of Impacted Lower Third Molars

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the postoperative healing, using primary versus secondary closure techniques after impacted mandibular third molar removal. The study consisted of 86 patients, under 40 years of age were divided into two groups as Group A and Group B in the randomized Fashion. In Group A, closure was done by primary intention and in Group B, by secondary closure. A comparison between both groups was done with a follow-up period of 6 h to 6 days with regards to postoperative pain and swelling. The swelling in group I was greater than that in group II, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). The pain was worse in group I than in group II; a difference that also was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The study showed that the patients in the secondary closure group had a significantly lesser amount of pain and swelling postoperatively than the primary closure group