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NCT Number: NCT07012564

Does Vitamin C Improve Postoperative Healing

This randomized, split-mouth clinical trial investigates the effect of oral vitamin C supplementation on postoperative recovery following the surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. Fifty-six healthy patients underwent bilateral extractions, with each side randomly assigned to receive either 1000 mg of oral vitamin C or a placebo. The supplementation began one day before surgery and continued through postoperative day 7. The outcome measures included facial swelling assessed through linear measurements (tragus-pogonion, tragus-commissure labiorum, and lateral canthus of the eye-angulus mandible), pain using a visual analog scale (VAS), trismus based on maximum interincisal opening, and early wound healing assessed with the Landry healing index. Analgesic consumption was also recorded. Pain was evaluated using VAS on days 1, 2, and 7. Edema, trismus, and early wound healing were evaluated on postoperative days 2 and 7. The study aims to determine whether vitamin C reduces edema, pain, and trismus, and enhances early soft tissue healing compared to placebo.

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Key information

Conditions

Impacted Mandibular Third Molar Edema Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Neuromuscular Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Spasm Trismus

Age range

18 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Hacettepe University Faculty of Dentistry

Ankara, 06100, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

This randomized, split-mouth clinical trial aimed to investigate the effect of oral vitamin C supplementation on postoperative recovery following the surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. A total of 56 healthy patients requiring bilateral lower third molar extractions were included in the study. Each patient underwent two separate surgeries on both sides, with each side randomly assigned to receive either 1000 mg of oral vitamin C or a placebo.

Vitamin C supplementation started one day prior to surgery and continued for seven days postoperatively. The primary outcomes of the study were facial swelling, pain, trismus, and early soft tissue healing. Facial swelling was assessed using three linear measurements between specific anatomical landmarks: tragus-pogonion, tragus-labial commissure, and lateral canthus of the eye-angulus mandible. Trismus was measured based on maximum interincisal distance. Pain was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) on postoperative days 1, 2, and 7. Edema, trismus, and early wound healing were assessed on postoperative days 2 and 7. Early wound healing was scored using the Landry healing index. Analgesic consumption was also recorded during the postoperative period.

This study was designed to evaluate whether vitamin C supplementation could reduce postoperative edema, pain, and trismus, and improve early soft tissue healing in comparison to placebo in the context of oral surgical procedures. The findings may provide evidence to support the use of vitamin C as an adjunctive therapy in oral surgery.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18-35 years
  • Systemically healthy
  • Non-smoker
  • No alcohol or substance abuse
  • Bilateral impacted mandibular third molars
  • Mesioangular impaction with a Pederson index of 5-6
  • Voluntary participation
  • Ability and willingness to attend follow-up visits

Exclusion criteria

  • Pregnancy or lactation
  • Presence of infection or pain related to third molars
  • Associated pathological conditions (e.g., cysts or tumors)
  • History of previous mandibular third molar extraction
  • Congenital absence of third molars
  • Known allergy to any drug or substance used in the study

Treatment and study plan

Vitamin C

Dietary Supplement

1000 mg oral vitamin C tablet taken daily from one day before surgery to postoperative day 7.

Placebo

Other

Identical-appearing oral tablet taken on the same schedule as the vitamin C group.

Primary outcomes

  1. Postoperative Facial Swelling

    Time frame: Postoperative Day 2 and Day 7

    Facial swelling was measured using three linear distances: tragus-pogonion, tragus-labial commissure, and lateral canthus-mandibular angle.

  2. Postoperative Pain Score (VAS)

    Time frame: Postoperative Days 1, 2, and 7

    Pain intensity was assessed using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS), with 0 = no pain and 10 = worst possible pain.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Trismus (Maximum Interincisal Opening)

    Time frame: Postoperative Days 2 and 7

    Trismus was assessed by measuring the maximum interincisal distance in millimeters using a caliper.

  2. Early Wound Healing (Landry Healing Index)

    Time frame: Postoperative Days 2 and 7

    Soft tissue healing was evaluated using the Landry healing index, which scores wound healing on a 5-point scale based on tissue color, bleeding, and granulation.

  3. Analgesic Consumption

    Time frame: Postoperative Days 1,2 and 7

    : The number of analgesic tablets consumed was recorded for each participant.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Hacettepe University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Does Vitamin C Improve Postoperative Healing: A Randomized Split-Mouth Clinical Trial After Impacted Mandibular Third Molar Surgery

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jun 10, 2025
Registry last updated
Jun 10, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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