Local anesthesia during surgery: when is the best time to give it?

Patients undergoing third molar extractions while under general anesthesia were given local anesthesia either before (group 1) or after (group 2) surgery. The medication intake and pain scores were studied for 7 days but showed no difference between the two groups. It is suggested that timing of local anesthesia alone may not prevent or reduce the postoperative pain experience.