BACKGROUND: Oral surgical procedures produce side effects such as pain and inflammation, the magnitude of which depends on the degree of tissue damage produced. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness and safety of the topical application of 1% oxytetracycline hydrochloride after biopsy of the oral mucosa. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo- and no treatment-controlled study was conducted in 90 patients with lesions needing histopathologic analysis. The patients were divided into three groups. Group I (control) received no treatment; in group II, the site of surgical intervention was treated topically with 1% oxytetracycline hydrochloride three times a day for 1 week; and in group III, the patients were treated in the same way but with placebo. Using a visual analog scale, we determined the time of maximum postoperative pain. RESULTS:Maximum pain intensity was recorded in the placebo group, with peak pain occurring 24 hours after surgery. The pain subsequently tended to decrease gradually over the 1-week period of the study. The maximum level of pain was significantly lower in group II than in the controls. No adverse effects were recorded. CONCLUSIONS:Topical 1% oxytetracycline hydrochloride decreases pain symptomsafter oral mucosa biopsy.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Oral surgical procedures produce side effects such as pain and inflammation, the magnitude of which depends on the degree of tissue damage produced. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness and safety of the topical application of 1% oxytetracycline hydrochloride after biopsy of the oral mucosa. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo- and no treatment-controlled study was conducted in 90 patients with lesions needing histopathologic analysis. The patients were divided into three groups. Group I (control) received no treatment; in group II, the site of surgical intervention was treated topically with 1% oxytetracycline hydrochloride three times a day for 1 week; and in group III, the patients were treated in the same way but with placebo. Using a visual analog scale, we determined the time of maximum postoperative pain. RESULTS: Maximum pain intensity was recorded in the placebo group, with peak pain occurring 24 hours after surgery. The pain subsequently tended to decrease gradually over the 1-week period of the study. The maximum level of pain was significantly lower in group II than in the controls. No adverse effects were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Topical 1% oxytetracycline hydrochloridedecreases pain symptoms after oral mucosa biopsy.