Comparison of the influence of ozone and laser therapies on pain, swelling, and trismus following impacted third-molar surgery

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the ozone and laser application in the management of pain, swelling, and trismus after third-molar surgery. Sixty consecutive patients with asymptomatic impacted mandibular third molars were recruited into the study. Patients were randomized into three treatment groups of 20 patients each: two study groups (group 1 = low-level laser therapy (LLLT), group 2 = ozone therapy) and a control group (no-LLLT or ozone therapy). Twenty teeth extractions were performed in each group. Evaluations of postoperative pain, the number of analgesics tablets taken, trismus, swelling, and quality of life (Oral Health Impact Profile-14 questionnaire) were made. The sample consisted of 28 female and 32 male patients, whose total mean age was 23.5 +/- 3.4 (range, 18-25) years. The pain level and the number of analgesics tablets taken were lower in the ozonated and LLLT applied groups than in the control group. This study showed that ozone and low power laser therapies had a positive effect on the patients' quality of life. Trismus in the LLLT group was significantly less than in the ozonated and control groups (p = 0.033). Ozone application showed no superiority in regards of postoperative swelling; however, LLLT group had significantly lower postoperative swelling. This study demonstrates that ozone and laser therapies are useful for the reduction of postoperative pain and they increase quality of life after third-molar surgery. Although the ozone therapy had no effect on postoperative swelling and trismus after surgical removal of impacted lower third molars, LLLT had a positive effect.