Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery : official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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This study evaluated trismus and pain after removal of impacted lower third molars and investigated whether these responses were related to difficulty of surgery. ⋯ Trismus is less severe after simple (forceps-only, grade I) extractions than after surgical extractions (grades II to IV). However, trismus severity after surgical extraction does not depend on difficulty of surgery. Pain, as revealed by reported analgesic use, is likewise less severe after simple extractions. Regardless of extraction type, pain declines between days 1 and 5 postsurgery.