Effects of German chamomile on symptoms and healing after mandibular third molar surgeries: A triple-blind split-mouth randomised controlled trial

Background and aim

Surgical extraction of the impacted lower third molar is one of the most common surgical procedures in dentistry. Postoperative pain usually reaches its intensity 12 h after the procedure and adversely affects the patient's quality of life for many days. Chamomile anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties have been introduced in the medical literature. The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of chamomile gel in reducing postoperative pain and symptoms after impacted lower third molar surgeries.

Materials and methods

This study was a triple-blinded placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial with a split-mouth crossover design. The study included 70 impacted lower third molars in 35 patients (13 males and 22 females) with a mean age of 22.29 (±3.00) years. Participants’ extraction sides were randomly allocated into the study groups. Each participant was enrolled twice, i.e., into the study and control groups with a washout period of 3 weeks between the two surgeries. Postoperative pain, need for analgesics, symptoms severity (PoSSe), and wound healing were evaluated.

Results

Gingival healing was significantly better in chamomile group compared to control group (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in post-extraction alveolar osteitis between chamomile and control group (P = 0.314). VAS results showed significant differences in mean pain scores, with significant decrease in chamomile groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, analgesic consumption was significantly higher in placebo group (P < 0.05). Mean PoSSe scores were 16.8 (±9.4) in the chamomile group, versus 41.1 (±9.9) in the control.

Conclusions

Within the limitations of the present study, it was concluded that intra-socket application of chamomile gel might effectively improve healing, and reduce pain levels, postoperative symptoms severity, and analgesics consumption after surgical extraction of impacted lower third molars.