Effect of Dexamethasone and Dipyrone on Lingual and Inferior Alveolar Nerve Hypersensitivity Following Third Molar Extractions: Preliminary Report

Aims: To study the effect of dexamethazone and dipyrone on sen-sory changes in the innervation territories of the inferior alveolar, infraorbital, and lingual nerves caused by third molar extractions. Methods: Fourteen patients (8 men and 6 women) were divided randomly into 2 groups. The first group received dipyrone preop-eratively, while the second group received dipyrone and dexamet-hazone preoperatively. All patients in the study received a prophy-lactic preoperative dose of amoxicillin (500 mg) as well as dipyrone postoperatively. In all patients, a single mandibular third molar was removed, while in 2 patients the contralateral third molar was removed at a subsequent time. Electrical detection thresholds were assessed in the inferior alveolar, lingual, and infraorbital nerve regions prior to surgery and 2 and 8 days fol-lowing surgery. The level of perioperative pain, difficulty of extraction, and distance of molar root apices from the inferior alveolar nerve canal were also assessed. Results: Patients who received only dipyrone had significantly reduced lingual and infe-rior alveolar nerve electrical detection thresholds 2 days after surgery, which returned to nearly baseline values by the eighth day postoperatively. In patients who received dexamethasone, no sig-nificant reduction in the electrical detection threshold was found. Conclusion: Preoperative treatment with dexamethasone and dipyrone but not dipyrone alone prevents sensory hypersensitivity following third molar extraction.

dexamethasone; dipyrone; pain measurement; third molar; tooth extraction

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