Does Vitamin C Improve Postoperative Healing

NCT07012564 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: HU-ADÇC-AA-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 56
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized, split-mouth clinical trial investigates the effect of oral vitamin C supplementation on postoperative recovery following the surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. Fifty-six healthy patients underwent bilateral extractions, with each side randomly assigned to receive either 1000 mg of oral vitamin C or a placebo. The supplementation began one day before surgery and continued through postoperative day 7. The outcome measures included facial swelling assessed through linear measurements (tragus-pogonion, tragus-commissure labiorum, and lateral canthus of the eye-angulus mandible), pain using a visual analog scale (VAS), trismus based on maximum interincisal opening, and early wound healing assessed with the Landry healing index. Analgesic consumption was also recorded. Pain was evaluated using VAS on days 1, 2, and 7. Edema, trismus, and early wound healing were evaluated on postoperative days 2 and 7. The study aims to determine whether vitamin C reduces edema, pain, and trismus, and enhances early soft tissue healing compared to placebo.

Conditions

Impacted Mandibular Third Molar

Keywords

Vitamin C; Wound Healing; Third Molar Surgery; Oral Surgery; Postoperative Recovery; Trismus; Facial Swelling; Pain; Analgesic Use; Edema

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Postoperative Facial Swelling

  Facial swelling was measured using three linear distances: tragus-pogonion, tragus-labial commissure, and lateral canthus-mandibular angle.

  Postoperative Day 2 and Day 7

• Postoperative Pain Score (VAS)

  Pain intensity was assessed using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS), with 0 = no pain and 10 = worst possible pain.

  Postoperative Days 1, 2, and 7

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Trismus (Maximum Interincisal Opening)

  Postoperative Days 2 and 7

• Early Wound Healing (Landry Healing Index)

  Postoperative Days 2 and 7

• Analgesic Consumption

  Postoperative Days 1,2 and 7

Study Arms (2)

Vitamin C

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients received 1000 mg of oral vitamin C daily starting one day before surgery through postoperative day 7.

Dietary Supplement: Vitamin C

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Patients received an identical-looking placebo tablet once daily for the same duration.

Other: Placebo

Interventions

Vitamin C DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

1000 mg oral vitamin C tablet taken daily from one day before surgery to postoperative day 7.

Vitamin C

Placebo OTHER

Identical-appearing oral tablet taken on the same schedule as the vitamin C group.

Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18-35 years
• Systemically healthy
• Non-smoker
• No alcohol or substance abuse
• Bilateral impacted mandibular third molars
• Mesioangular impaction with a Pederson index of 5-6
• Voluntary participation
• Ability and willingness to attend follow-up visits

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnancy or lactation
• Presence of infection or pain related to third molars
• Associated pathological conditions (e.g., cysts or tumors)
• History of previous mandibular third molar extraction
• Congenital absence of third molars
• Known allergy to any drug or substance used in the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hacettepe University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Hacettepe University Faculty of Dentistry

Ankara, 06100, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Trismus; Pain; Edema

Interventions

Ascorbic Acid

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Spasm; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sugar Acids; Acids, Acyclic; Carboxylic Acids; Organic Chemicals; Hydroxy Acids; Carbohydrates

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: This study was designed as a double-blind trial. Both the participants and the outcome assessors were blinded to the allocation of the intervention (vitamin C or placebo). The tablets were identical in appearance, taste, and packaging to ensure blinding integrity. Allocation concealment was maintained by a third party responsible for randomization and distribution of the supplements. The clinical evaluator who performed the postoperative measurements (pain, swelling, trismus, and wound healing) was not informed about the intervention administered to each surgical site. Participants were also unaware of which side received vitamin C or placebo.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Model Details: This study employed a split-mouth crossover design, where each participant served as their own control. Bilateral surgical extractions of impacted mandibular third molars were performed in two separate sessions. The intervention (vitamin C) and the control (placebo) were randomly assigned to either the left or right surgical site, allowing intra-individual comparison of postoperative outcomes.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 31, 2025
• First Posted: June 10, 2025
• Study Start: June 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: February 15, 2025
• Study Completion: March 1, 2025
• Last Updated: June 10, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)