Effect of 2 flap designs on postoperative pain and swelling after impacted third molar surgery

The aim of this study was to evaluate 2 flap designs (envelope and modified triangular flap) for postoperative pain and swelling after mandibular impacted third molar surgery.

Thirty patients who had symmetric bilateral fully impacted mandibular third molars were selected. Left teeth were approached with an envelope flap, and right teeth were removed using a modified triangular flap. Postoperative pain and swelling were evaluated until the seventh day by using 2 verbal rating scales.

Statistical analyses showed that there were no significant differences between the 2 incision techniques regarding postoperative pain and swelling (P > .05).

There is no significant difference between the envelope and modified triangular flap regarding postoperative pain and swelling after impacted third molar surgery.