Does Vitamin C Improve Postoperative Healing

Hacettepe University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Impacted Mandibular Third Molar

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Vitamin C; Other: Placebo

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07012564

HU-ADÇC-AA-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized, split-mouth clinical trial investigates the effect of oral vitamin C supplementation on postoperative recovery following the surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. Fifty-six healthy patients underwent bilateral extractions, with each side randomly assigned to receive either 1000 mg of oral vitamin C or a placebo. The supplementation began one day before surgery and continued through postoperative day 7. The outcome measures included facial swelling assessed through linear measurements (tragus-pogonion, tragus-commissure labiorum, and lateral canthus of the eye-angulus mandible), pain using a visual analog scale (VAS), trismus based on maximum interincisal opening, and early wound healing assessed with the Landry healing index. Analgesic consumption was also recorded. Pain was evaluated using VAS on days 1, 2, and 7. Edema, trismus, and early wound healing were evaluated on postoperative days 2 and 7. The study aims to determine whether vitamin C reduces edema, pain, and trismus, and enhances early soft tissue healing compared to placebo.

Full description

This randomized, split-mouth clinical trial aimed to investigate the effect of oral vitamin C supplementation on postoperative recovery following the surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. A total of 56 healthy patients requiring bilateral lower third molar extractions were included in the study. Each patient underwent two separate surgeries on both sides, with each side randomly assigned to receive either 1000 mg of oral vitamin C or a placebo.

Vitamin C supplementation started one day prior to surgery and continued for seven days postoperatively. The primary outcomes of the study were facial swelling, pain, trismus, and early soft tissue healing. Facial swelling was assessed using three linear measurements between specific anatomical landmarks: tragus-pogonion, tragus-labial commissure, and lateral canthus of the eye-angulus mandible. Trismus was measured based on maximum interincisal distance. Pain was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) on postoperative days 1, 2, and 7. Edema, trismus, and early wound healing were assessed on postoperative days 2 and 7. Early wound healing was scored using the Landry healing index. Analgesic consumption was also recorded during the postoperative period.

This study was designed to evaluate whether vitamin C supplementation could reduce postoperative edema, pain, and trismus, and improve early soft tissue healing in comparison to placebo in the context of oral surgical procedures. The findings may provide evidence to support the use of vitamin C as an adjunctive therapy in oral surgery.

Enrollment: 56 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18-35 years
• Systemically healthy
• Non-smoker
• No alcohol or substance abuse
• Bilateral impacted mandibular third molars
• Mesioangular impaction with a Pederson index of 5-6
• Voluntary participation
• Ability and willingness to attend follow-up visits

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy or lactation
• Presence of infection or pain related to third molars
• Associated pathological conditions (e.g., cysts or tumors)
• History of previous mandibular third molar extraction
• Congenital absence of third molars
• Known allergy to any drug or substance used in the study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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56 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Vitamin C

Experimental group

Description:

Patients received 1000 mg of oral vitamin C daily starting one day before surgery through postoperative day 7.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Vitamin C

Placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Patients received an identical-looking placebo tablet once daily for the same duration.

Treatment:

Other: Placebo