Evaluation of the efficacy of topical rifamycin application on postoperative complications after lower impacted wisdom teeth surgery

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a single-dose topical rifamycin application on postoperative complications after impacted lower third molar surgery.

This prospective, controlled clinical study consisted of individuals with bilaterally impacted lower third molars that would be extracted for orthodontic reasons. The extraction sockets were irrigated with 3 ml/250 mg of rifamycin solution in Group 1, while in Group 2 (control group) the extraction sockets were irrigated with 20 ml of physiological saline. Pain intensity was measured daily for 7 days by using visual analog scale. Trismus and edema were evaluated preoperatively and on the postoperative days 2 and 7 by calculating the proportional changes in maximum mouth opening and mean distance between reference points of the face, respectively. Paired samples t-test, Wilcoxon signed rank test and Chi-square test were used to analyze the study variables.

35 patients (19 female, 16 male) were included in the study. The mean age of all participants was 22.19±4.98. Alveolitis was observed in 8 patients, (6 in the control group, 2 in the rifamycin group). There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of trismus and swelling measurements on the 2nd and 7th postoperative days (p>0.05). VAS scores were significantly low in rifamycin group on postoperative days 1 and 4 (p<0.05).

Within the limits of the present study, topical rifamycin application reduced the incidence of alveolitis, prevented infection, and provided analgesic effect after surgical removal of impacted third molars.