C-reactive protein a better indicator of inflammation after third molar extraction.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relation between pre-operative pain and pre-operative levels of C-reactive and post-operative pain and swelling in impacted third molar surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study subjects were patients indicated for mandibular third molar extraction. Patients were assessed for certain inclusion and exclusion criteria's. A standard surgical extraction procedure was followed to reduce the bias. Hematological investigation of C-reactive protein levels were recorded pre-operatively and post-operatively. Pain, swelling and trismus in patients were assessed pre-operatively and post-operatively in an interval of 24 hours, 48 hours and 7 days. Pain and swelling were measured using verbal analogue scale and thread length measurement respectively. The mouth opening was recorded, too. RESULTS: Post-operative C-reactive protein levels were seen consistency raised in those cases which showed high pre-operative levels. Peak levels of C-reactive protein were seen at 48 hours post operatively. It was observed that pre-operative pain swelling and mouth opening were seen to be variable in all the cases having high C-reactive protein levels. CONCLUSION: C-reactive protein was found to be a better indicator of inflammation than pre-operative pain, swelling and mouth opening for post-operative discomfort.