Effectiveness of Dexamethasone Injection for Reducing Pain After Third Molar Surgery

NCT07538375 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: MDC-LHR-DEXA-2025
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 70
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of dexamethasone injection in reducing postoperative pain after surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. Patients are divided into two groups: one receiving standard local anesthesia, and the other receiving an additional dexamethasone injection postoperatively. Pain levels are assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery. The study is conducted at 28 Military Dental Centre, Lahore.

Conditions

Impacted Mandibular Third Molar; Postoperative Pain

Keywords

Dexamethasone; Third Molar Surgery; Impacted Tooth; Postoperative pain; Visual analogue scale

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Postoperative pain intensity

  Postoperative pain will be assessed using a 10-point Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates worst possible pain, following surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars.

  24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours postoperatively

Study Arms (2)

Dexamethasone Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Dexamethasone 8 mg (1 ml) was administered via buccal vestibular injection immediately after surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars.

Drug: Dexamethasone

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants will receive standard postoperative care without dexamethasone following surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars.

Interventions

Dexamethasone DRUG

Dexamethasone 8 mg (1 ml) was administered via buccal vestibular injection immediately after surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars.

Dexamethasone Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Patients aged 20 to 40 years
• Patients with at least one impacted mandibular third molar (Class A or B, Class I or II) including mesioangular, horizontal, vertical, or distoangular impactions according to Pell and Gregory classification confirmed by panoramic radiograph
• Patients with no systemic disease (e.g., diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease)
• Patients of either gender

You may not qualify if:

• Patients who have used analgesics or related drugs within 15 days prior to surgery
• Pregnant patients
• Patients with known allergy to corticosteroids
• Patients with tooth associated with cyst, tumor, or trauma

Sponsors & Collaborators

• 28 Military Dental Centre Lahore: lead

Study Sites (1)

28 Military Dental Centre

Lahore, Punjab Province, 63000, Pakistan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain, Postoperative; Tooth, Impacted

Interventions

Dexamethasone

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Tooth Diseases; Stomatognathic Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pregnadienetriols; Pregnadienes; Pregnanes; Steroids; Fused-Ring Compounds; Polycyclic Compounds; Steroids, Fluorinated

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: This is an open-label study. Participants and investigators are aware of the assigned interventions, as one group receives dexamethasone while the control group receives standard postoperative care without dexamethasone.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Resident, Oral and maxillofacial surgery

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned into two parallel groups: one group will receive dexamethasone injection and the other group will receive standard postoperative care without dexamethasone following surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 12, 2026
• First Posted: April 20, 2026
• Study Start: December 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 30, 2026
• Last Updated: April 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)