Do patients understand wisdom teeth post-op care? A double-blind clinical trial

Abstract

Introduction: Effective communication of postoperative instructions is a fundamental pillar for successful surgical recovery. However, information retention and patient comprehension regarding care remain significant challenges in clinical dental practice, potentially impacting treatment outcomes directly. Objective: To assess patient comprehension of postoperative care following third molar extraction by comparing the effectiveness of three different instruction delivery methods. Material and method: A study was conducted with 40 patients (21 females, 19 males; mean age 24.38 years) undergoing third molar surgeries. Participants were assigned to three groups: Group A (verbal instructions for postoperative and complementary care), Group B (verbal and written postoperative instructions + verbal complementary care), and Group C (verbal and written instructions for both). Comprehension was evaluated using a structured questionnaire administered with interviewer assistance. Result: While overall understanding was similar across groups, Group C demonstrated significantly superior adherence to the ‘avoid spitting’ instruction (p = 0.025). Critical errors were identified regarding treatment duration (20% incorrect), antibiotic dosing intervals (35% incorrect), and anti-inflammatory use (62.5% incorrect). Only 7.5% of patients correctly understood trismus mitigation strategies. Conclusion: These findings highlight severe gaps in information retention, particularly concerning medication regimens and the management of common sequelae. Optimized instructional strategies, combining verbal and written formats, are essential to enhance patient safety and improve clinical outcomes.