Background: This study aimed to evaluate the patient's pain and quality of life after suture removal at either 3 or 7 days following the bilateral surgical extraction of impacted lower third molars.
Methods: This study was a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial carried out in 30 patients, who acted as their own control. Each patient required the bilaterally impacted mandibular third molars to be extracted. The impacted teeth were removed and the wound margins were approximated and sutured with black braided silk. The suture material was removed on day 3 on one side and on day 7 on the other. Each participant was asked to complete a questionnaire after the removal of the suture material on each designated day.
Results: Regarding overall clinical symptoms, the mean VAS scores of male and female participants on day 3 were not significantly different from those on day 7. A significant difference was found in female participants, in that overall daily activity was better on day 7. There were significant differences in the ability to smile and laugh in both sexes and the ability to chew in the male participants was better on day 7.
Conclusions: There were no significant differences in the patient's pain and quality of life between suture removal on day 3 or on day 7 following surgery to remove impacted lower third molars.
Keywords: Pain; Patient satisfaction; Quality of life; Suture technique; Third molar; Trismus.