Effects of the Application of an Oxygen-Enriched Oil-Based Dressing (NovoX-Drop) After Extraction of Impacted Lower Third Molars: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Lower third impacted molar extraction, despite being a routinary procedure for oral and maxillo-facial surgeons, may often result in a significantly negative impact in patient's post-operatory quality of life. Among others, treatments based on oxygen-enriched oils have been shown to provide valuable therapeutic benefits in promoting wound healing, and therefore improving the immediate post-operatory symptomatology. The aim of this triple-blinded randomized controlled study is to supplement the existing evidence in the scientific literature by assessing the effectiveness of NovoX-Drop (Moss S.p.A., Lesa, Novara), a specific type of oxygen enriched oil-based device in reducing pain and inflammatory stimulus of post-surgical wounds following the extraction of lower third impacted molars. Seventy-one patients undergoing surgical extraction of a single lower third impacted molar were randomly assigned to receive either NovoX-Drop (Group A) or a glycerin-based gel (Group B). Additionally, both patient groups followed the same standard therapy with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and ibuprofen. Data were collected preoperative (T0) and after three (T3) and seven (T7) days postoperative in order to assess the following outcomes: mean visual analogue scale (VAS) score during the seven days protocol treatment, total duration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) usage, trismus (maximum mouth opening) and facial oedema. Group A (treatment group) reported significatively lower pain levels at T7 compared to group B (average VAS value during the week: Group A: 3.57 ± 0.39 cm; Group B: 4.47 ± 0.40 cm; -value = 0.0014) despite a significatively shorter period of NSAID usage (average NSAID usage duration: Group A: 2.43 ± 0.38 days; Group B: 3.38 ± 0.44 days; -value = 0.00001). Therefore, trismus seems to be better controlled in group A, although the difference between the groups did not reach the threshold for statistical significance. The results of this study suggest that application of NovoX-Drop is capable of significantly reducing the post-operatory pain as well as NSAID usage, representing a promising and effective option for third impacted molar extraction surgery management.