Marginal flap versus paramarginal flap in impacted third molar surgery: a prospective study.

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Dental Research
• Surgical Techniques

Background:

• Impacted third molar surgery is a common dental procedure.
• Flap design is crucial for surgical outcomes and patient recovery.
• Marginal and paramarginal flaps are two techniques used in this surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively compare the clinical outcomes of marginal versus paramarginal flap designs in impacted third molar surgery.
• To evaluate the influence of flap design on wound healing, periodontal health, pain, trismus, and swelling.

Main Methods:

• A prospective clinical study involving 27 patients undergoing surgical removal of impacted third molars.
• Each patient received a marginal flap on one side of the jaw and a paramarginal flap on the other.
• Outcomes assessed included wound healing (dehiscence), periodontal pocket depth of the adjacent second molar, pain, trismus, and swelling.

Main Results:

• No wound dehiscences were observed with the marginal flap, while 8 cases occurred with the paramarginal flap.
• Initially, marginal flaps showed greater probing depths for the adjacent second molar, but this normalized by 3 months.
• Pain, trismus, and swelling levels were comparable between the two flap designs.

Conclusions:

• The traditional marginal flap is a suitable and effective choice for impacted third molar extraction.
• No significant advantages were identified for using a paramarginal flap over a marginal flap in this context.
• The findings support the continued use of the marginal flap technique.