Hyaluronic Acid and Amino Acid Gel Applied to the Alveolar Socket After Mandibular Third Molar Extraction

A lower third molar was extracted under local anesthesia generally involving an inferior alveolar nerve block associated with a buccal nerve block (2% mepivacaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine, Optocain, Molteni Dental, Italy), plus sedation as necessary. All the surgical tools and materials as well as the surgical field were sterile. A full-thickness flap was raised and, if necessary, osteotomy and tooth sectioning were performed using a straight handpiece with dedicated burs under copious irrigation with sterile saline solution. The extraction was completed with curved and straight extractors, the socket was closely inspected and the dental follicle was removed. The bone edges were refined to remove the bone spurs with a bone lime and then irrigated with abundant sterile 0.9% saline solution. Depending on the group to which the patient was assigned, one of the following procedures was carried out: the socket was filled with a topical amino acid + sodium hyaluronate gel (Aminogam®, sterile syringe 2 ml) or the socket was flushed, using a 2ml sterile syringe similar to one utilized to apply the gel, with sterile physiological solution. The flap was then repositioned and sutured (Novosyn 4.0, B. Braun AG, Melsungen, Germany) to allow healing by primary intention. After surgery, the patients were prescribed antibiotics (amoxicillin clavulanate 1 g every 12 hours for 6 days, or clarithromycin 250 mg every 12 hours for 6 days) and painkillers (paracetamol 1000 mg every 8 hours was recommended). The patients were also provided standard postoperative recommendations regarding activity, diet, and smoking. The following data were registered at the time of surgery: the range of pre-operative mouth opening measurement (assessed by measuring the distance between the incisors), the type of sedation utilized, if osteotomy or root resection was carried out, the quantity of peri-operative bleeding, the amount of time between incision and suture (surgical procedure time).