The influence of the suture-less anterior releasing incision in a triangular flap design on postoperative healing following surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of suture-less anterior releasing incisions on postoperative wound healing following surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. Materials and Methods: A total of 112 patients were included in the study. Group 1 had 56 patients in which the anterior releasing incision was not sutured postoperatively, and group 2 had 56 patients, in whom the anterior releasing incision was sutured. The two groups were compared in terms of pain, swelling, and trismus at 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days postoperatively. The Univariate Type III Repeated-Measures ANOVA Assuming Sphericity was used to compare the two modes of treatments at different time points. The periodontal healing distal to the second molar was assessed on the first day and at 2 months following the surgical intervention. The independent t test was used to compare the periodontal healing between the two groups at two time points. Results: No significant difference was observed between the two groups for pain and trismus (P > 0.05). However, the swelling was significantly greater in group 2 as compared to group 1 (P < 0.001). Periodontal healing was better in group 2, which showed lower periodontal probing depth distal to the mandibular second molar, compared to group 1 (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Suture-less anterior releasing incision decreases the postoperative swelling and edema, but the periodontal healing was poor when compared to the sutured anterior releasing incision cases. The type of closure technique did not have any significant influence on pain and trismus.