Comparative evaluation of the effect of simvastatin and xenograft (sticky bone) in the third molar socket after surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar.

Background: Third molar surgery, and more especially mandibular third molar surgery, is among the most often performed and popular operations in oral surgery. This is well known to have major postoperative adverse effects, including limited jaw opening, edema, and pain. Several approaches and biomaterials have been developed to reduce these complications, like osseous grafts, growth factors (PRF, CGF), stem-cell therapy, and osteopromotive substances like statins. Sticky bone, in recent years, has gained popularity due to its osseous and soft tissue healing potential.

Methods: The purpose of this clinical trial was to examine the effects of simvastatin and xenograft (sticky bone) on the region around the socket. In this study, 22 patients (representing 44 surgery sites) participated. The indicators of pain, edema, mouth opening, and gingival healing were evaluated in both groups on the third, seventh, and one-month marks. Regeneration of bone and density of bone were compared at the one-month and three-month marks.

Results: Patient's postoperative pain significantly reduced in both groups from third day to seventh day till one month with better outcome in group A (sticky bone) in comparison with group B (simvastatin). Swelling decreased postoperatively from third day till one month in both groups, with significant reduction in group A than group B at one month owing to the better soft tissue healing tendency of xenograft (sticky bone). Postoperative mouth opening showed improved outcome in group A in comparison with group B. Gingival healing was not significant when compared in both the groups. The overall comparison of the two groups revealed that there was increased bone regeneration and bone density in group A than in group B at the end of the third month.

Conclusion: Xenograft (sticky bone) was more effective in osseous regeneration of the extraction socket as well as more effective in reducing the postoperative complications in comparison with simvastatin (10 mg). Therefore, placement of sticky bone in the extraction socket is justified due to its excellent soft and hard tissue healing potential.