Effect of low-concentration povidone iodine on postoperative complications after third molar surgery: a pilot split-mouth study.

Povidone iodine is used primarily as an antiseptic to decrease surgical site infection. Its hemostatic and antiedematous properties in oral surgery also have been investigated recently. A randomized controlled clinical trial was performed in 30 patients undergoing mandibular third molar removal in a split-mouth design. In the study group, a povidone iodine solution with a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL was used as the coolant and irrigant solution, whereas normal saline was used in the control group. Swelling (orotragus and mentotragus distances), trismus (maximum interincisal opening), and pain (visual analog scale score) were evaluated on postoperative days 2 and 7. In the study group, a significant decrease in swelling and trismus was observed at the 2 postoperative visits (P = .00) compared with the control group. The decrease of pain in the study group was not statistically significant at either postoperative visit (P > .05). More patients (63%) were subjectively satisfied with the side treated with povidone iodine. Povidone iodine irrigation is an inexpensive and safe method to lessen the postoperative sequelae of third molar surgery.