Decreasing edema with platysma exercises following third molar extraction surgery: A randomized controlled trial

The extraction of lower third molars is a routine procedure in dental practice however, it can lead to complications such as pain, edema and trismus. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of platysma exercises applied after lower third molar tooth extraction on edema, while observing the differences in pain and trismus.

This randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara University. Thirty-one participants, aged 18-40, requiring impacted lower third molar extraction were randomly assigned to an intervention group following surgery (receiving platysma exercises and pharmacological treatment) or a control group (receiving pharmacological treatment only). Postoperative outcomes, including edema, pain, and trismus, were evaluated at four time points: preoperatively, and on postoperative days 1, 3 and 7. Edema was assessed via standardized facial measurements, pain using a visual analog scale, and trismus by measuring maximum inter-incisal distance.

The intervention group exhibited a significant reduction in edema compared to the control group by the seventh postoperative day (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in trismus or pain levels between the groups, although a trend towards lower pain scores was noted in the intervention group.

Platysma exercises effectively reduce postoperative facial edema without exacerbating pain or trismus. This simple, cost-effective approach can be considered a valuable adjunct in the postoperative management of lower third molar extractions.