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Chapter 596Many prior studies have evaluated how different wound closure techniques influence the degree of discomfort after the surgical removal of third molars. There remains considerable controversy, with some studies suggesting that an open wound may be beneficial [41–44], while others found that primary closure of the wound is more convenient [45]. In both groups of our present study, the postoperative extraction sockets were left open for healing by means of secondary intention. The patients in the Monoject syringe group were instructed to irrigate the post-extraction socket with saline at 48 hours postoperatively. For patients in the experimental group, an iodine-containing tampon was placed in the extraction socket after molar extraction. Wound healing by secondary intention and administration of an alveolar iodinecontaining tampon in the post-operative extraction socket is a form of surgical drainage. Over the past three decades, multiple studies have examined the administration of various foreign agents in a post-extraction socket [14-17] and have evaluated how these agents impact the degrees of pain, swelling, trismus, and chewing problems. Additionally, several prior studies have evaluated the effects of surgical drainage on wound healing, postoperative sequelae, and pain. Hollander et al. observed reduced postoperative pain and swelling when using a bismuth iodoform paraffin paste-impregnated (BIPP) ribbon gauze dressing with partial closure, compared to a primary closure technique [14]. Similarly, Egbor et al. reported reduced postoperative swelling and trismus in patients treated with a Whitehead’s Varnish dressing in the socket, compared to primary closure [15]; however, the measured pain score did not significantly differ between these study populations. Notably, all patients received oral administration of 500 mg amoxicillin and 200 mg metronidazole for 5 days postoperatively, and thus it is unclear whether the positive effects can be fully attributed to the dressing intervention. Consistent findings were also described by Chukwuneke et al. [46] and Chaudhary et al. [47]. Liu et al. [17] performed a systematic review of ten randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical drainage after mandibular third molar surgery. They concluded that surgical drainage has a positive effect on postoperative sequelae, resulting in less swelling and trismus during the early and late stages, and significantly less pain during the early stage. They also