Corticosteroid use in oral surgery: A review of dosing protocols and clinical outcomes

Corticosteroids have become integral components of perioperative management in oral surgery, offering significant potential for reducing postoperative complications including pain, swelling, and trismus. Despite widespread clinical adoption, considerable variability exists in prescribing patterns regarding drug selection, dosing protocols, routes of administration, and timing of delivery. Available data shows that dexamethasone, particularly at doses of 4-16 mg, effectively reduces postoperative morbidity when compared to placebo. Thus, preoperative administration appears to offer superior outcomes compared to postoperative dosing, supporting a preemptive anti-inflammatory approach.