"COMPARISON OF PIEZOSURGERY AND CONVENTIONAL BUR METHOD IN SURGICAL REMOVAL OF IMPACTED MANDIBULAR THIRD MOLAR - A RANDOMIZED, SPLIT MOUTH, CLINICAL PILOT STUDY"

The surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars is a routine procedure performed due to the potential complications these teeth can pose, like pericoronitis, regional pain, abscess formation, trismus, caries on adjacent teeth, periodontal pockets near the second molar, follicular cysts and crowding of lower incisors. Traditional osteotomy techniques, when applied improperly, may lead to issues such as osteonecrosis and compromised healing. To evaluate the efficiency and post-operative outcomes of piezosurgery compared to the conventional bur technique in the surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. This study focuses on key outcomes, including pain, trismus, swelling, and the occurrence of dry socket. Comparison between groups [piezosurgery and conventional bur] was done to evaluate the postoperative sequelae like pain, trismus, dry socket and swelling. The obtained data were analyzed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Randomization was done by the conventional sampling method. Power analysis was done with G Power software. The duration of the procedure is increased in the piezosurgery group with a significant p* < 0.262. This accounts for the micrometric cut of the piezosurgery. Mouth opening is reduced in the piezosurgery group when compared to the conventional group. This may be related to the longer surgical time in the piezosurgery group. Prolonged stretching of the muscle lead to muscle spasms. Pain and swelling were reduced in the piezosurgery group compared to the conventional group. The dry socket was not observed in both group. Removal of the impacted lower third molar results in more favourable post operative outcome with piezosurgery technique. Further studies with more sample size are needed to compare the piezosurgery technique with conventional bur method.