Page 87 - Demo

Alveolar iodine tampon packing after impacted third molar surgery improves oral health-related quality of life855Randomization and concealment of allocationThis prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) comprised two groups: an intervention group, which received a postoperative iodine-containing tampon, and a control group, which was instructed to clean their wound with a Monoject syringe. Following patient inclusion, participants were randomly assigned to a treatment group using a computer randomization generator. The data from the OHIP-14 questionnaire were collected by a student during the follow-up. The questionnaire results were disclosed to the surgeon after statistical analysis of the data.ProceduresAll surgical procedures were performed by one oral and maxillofacial surgeon. All patients received local anesthesia (articaine hydrochloride 40 mg with 0.01 mg epinephrine, 1.7 mL Ultracain D-S forte; Sanofi-Aventis, Gouda, the Netherlands) to block the inferior alveolar nerve, following the hospital’s protocol. Additionally, infiltration anesthesia was administered in the buccal fold and distal of the incision in the mandibular ramus region. A triangular incision flap technique was used for all patients [8, 20]. The first incision started from the distobuccal edge of the adjacent second molar, dropping down at a 45° angle with the gingival margin, into the mandibular vestibule. The second incision started laterally in the mandibular ramus, and extended to the middle the second molar, connecting to the distobuccal edge. The mandibular bone surface was exposed, and bone overlying the crown of the wisdom tooth was removed using a surgical bur. The crown was then split using a high-speed turbine handpiece. The bone removal and tooth splitting were accompanied by copious irrigation using sterile saline (0.9% NaCl). Following full removal of the tooth, the alveolus was inspected, and follicular tissue was removed. The socket was rinsed with 10 mL sterile saline (0.9% NaCl). In the experimental group, an iodine-soaked tampon of 1 × 2 cm (Opraclean; Lohmann & Rauscher BV, Almere, The Netherlands) was placed into the surgical site. The Opraclean tampon is a 100% cotton gauze impregnated with an iodine ointment. The Opraclean dressing supports wound cleaning by absorbing exudate, cell debris and bacteria and has an antimicrobial effect. In the control group, nothing was placed into the surgical site. In both groups,