Healing of extraction socket with or without Gelatamp® after impacted mandibular third molar surgery: A prospective, comparative, randomized, split mouth study.

Introduction: This study was designed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of Gelatamp® as a topical hemostatic and bactericidal agent in reduction of postoperative complications and soft tissue healing with routine closure after surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molar. Material and Methods: This was a split-mouth, prospective, double-blinded, randomized control study. The study was carried out on 30 patients (60 impactions) aged between 18 and 45 years with Bilateral Impacted mandibular 3rd molar teeth (class II; Mesioangular; position B) indicated for surgical extraction. SITE I (n = 30) obtained Gelatamp following extraction, and the SITE II (n = 30) received no intervention. The key objectives were to evaluate bleeding after 40 minutes of pressure pack removal, soft tissue healing, postoperative sequelae such as pain, swelling, incidence of wound dehiscence, and alveolar osteitis maximal interincisal opening on 1, 3, 7, and 14 postoperative days. Result: The findings demonstrated a statistically significant difference among extraction sites for hemorrhage scores after 40 minutes of pressure dressing removal in SITE I (p = 0.039). No statistically significant difference present between the sites for pain, edema, soft tissue healing, wound dehiscence, and maximal interincisal opening recorded on all the follow-up days. In addition, no significant difference was detected for incidence of alveolar osteitis on 3 and 7 days after surgery (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The results of our data suggested that Gelatamp® could potentially be used to prevent postoperative sequalae such as hemorrhage and permits improved soft tissue healing after surgical extraction of impacted mandibular 3rd molar.