Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of cold alveolar gum in the postoperative response of impacted mandibular third molar surgery. Methods: A total of 60 patients were randomly allocated to two groups: cold alveolar gum and ice bag. The patients were measured using a plastic flexible ruler and an opening degree measure placed from the tragus to the lateral angle of eye, the tragus to the angle of mouth, the ear root to the pogonion and the mouth-opening preoperatively and postoperatively, while the postoperative pain was evaluated by visual analog scale(VAS) at the 48 hours after surgery. The clinical effects of cold alveolar gum and ice bag were compared. Results: The significant differences were found in the postoperative pain and the facial swelling between two groups (P<0.05). However, no differences were found in the mouth opening. Conclusion: This study illustrates the efficacy of cold alveolar gum that actually ameliorated the postoperative reaction in the extraction of the impacted mandibular third molar and was superior to the ice bag.

Key words: Cold therapy, Impacted mandibular third molar, Postoperative reaction