Comparison of 2 different flap techniques in the surgical removal of bilateral impacted mandibular third molars

Aim: To estimate the effects of flap design on wound dehiscence and the postoperative side effects after the extraction of bilateral impacted mandibular third molars. Materials and methods: This study was designed as a randomized, clinical trial composed of a sample of subjects ≥18 years of age who required surgical extraction of the mandibular third molars. The predictor variable was flap type. A 3-cornered flap was used on one side and a modified triangular flap was used on the other. The primary outcome variable was wound dehiscence. The secondary outcome variables were pain, swelling, and trismus. Other variables were demographic and operative. Descriptive, bivariate statistics were computed. Significance was set at P 0.05. Results: Forty patients who required removal of bilateral impacted third molars were included. There were no significant differences regarding wound dehiscence and postoperative side effects between the 2 flap techniques. Conclusion: Both flap designs obtained similar short-term outcomes in mandibular third molar surgery.