Impacted Mandibular Third MolarNCT07723326
Comparison of Electrocautery and Scalpel Blade Incisions of Impacted Mandibular Third Molars
A study testing scalpel blade incision and electrocautery incision in people with Impacted Mandibular Third Molar, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial aims to compare electrocautery and scalpel blade incisions during surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. The study will evaluate postoperative pain, intraoperative blood loss, and wound healing in patients undergoing third molar surgery. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 15 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Impacted Mandibular Third Molar
- What is being tested?
- scalpel blade incision and electrocautery incision
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 78 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 1 Aug 2026to 1 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 15 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Male and female patients.
- Age 15 to 65 years.
- Patients requiring surgical extraction of an impacted mandibular third molar. Patients classified as ASA I or ASA II.
- Patients willing to provide written informed consent, or assent with parent/guardian permission where applicable, and attend scheduled follow-up visits
Who cannot join
- * Patients with uncontrolled systemic disease or immuno-compromised status.
- Patients with bleeding disorders or those taking anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs that cannot be safely withheld according to physician advice.
- Patients with pacemaker or implanted electrical cardiac device.
- Pregnant or lactating patients.
- Patients with acute infection, pericoronitis, facial space infection, or pus discharge at the surgical site at the time of surgery.
- Patients requiring bilateral third-molar extraction in the same sitting.
- Patients unwilling to participate or unable to return for follow-up.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site
Islamic International Dental Hospital
Islamabad, 44000
Muhammad Usama, BDS/FCPS, +923325595484, usamakhan123478@gmail.com
Uzair Luqman, BDS/FCPS
About this study
Official title: Comparison of Electrocautery and Scalpel Blade Incisions on Postoperative Pain, Intraoperative Blood Loss, and Wound Healing Following Surgical Extraction of Impacted Mandibular Third Molars: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This randomized controlled trial aims to compare electrocautery and scalpel blade incisions during surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. The study will evaluate postoperative pain, intraoperative blood loss, and wound healing in patients undergoing third molar surgery. A total of 78 participants will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a scalpel blade incision or an electrocautery incision under standardized surgical conditions.
Read the detailed description
Surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars is one of the most common procedures in oral and maxillofacial surgery. The type of incision used may influence postoperative outcomes, including pain, bleeding, and wound healing. Electrocautery offers simultaneous cutting and coagulation, potentially reducing intraoperative blood loss and improving surgical visibility, whereas scalpel incisions produce precise tissue cuts without thermal injury.
This prospective, two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial will compare electrocautery and scalpel blade incisions in patients undergoing surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. Seventy-eight participants will be randomly assigned to either Arm A (scalpel blade incision) or Arm B (electrocautery incision). All other surgical and perioperative variables, including local anesthesia, flap design, irrigation, suture material, and postoperative medications, will be standardized.
The primary outcome is postoperative pain assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale at 24 hours, 48 hours, and 7 days. Secondary outcomes include intraoperative blood loss and wound healing assessed using the Landry Wound Healing Index at 1 and 4 weeks. The findings of this study will provide evidence regarding the most appropriate incision technique for impacted mandibular third-molar surgery.
- Conditions
- Impacted Mandibular Third Molar
- Being tested
- scalpel blade incision, electrocautery incision
- Keywords
- electrocautery, scalpel blade, impacted mandibular third molar
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
scalpel blade incisionProcedure or surgery
A sterile No. 15 stainless-steel scalpel blade will be used to make the mucoperiosteal flap incision during surgical extraction of the impacted mandibular third molar.
electrocautery incisionProcedure or surgery
A fine electrocautery electrode in cutting mode at a standardized effective power setting will be used to make the mucoperiosteal flap incision during surgical extraction of the impacted mandibular third molar.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| scalpel blade incision group | Experimental | Participants will undergo surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars using a sterile No. 15 scalpel blade for the mucoperiosteal flap incision Receives: Procedure: scalpel blade incision |
| electrocautery incision group | Experimental | Participants will undergo surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars using electrocautery in cutting mode for the mucoperiosteal flap incision Receives: Procedure: electrocautery incision |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
postoperative pain
Postoperative pain at the surgical site will be assessed using a 0-10 Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain
Measured: 24 hours, 48 hours, and 7 days after surgery.
Secondary outcomes (2)
intraoperative blood loss
Total blood loss will be calculated as the increase in gauze weight plus the suction-canister volume after subtracting the recorded irrigation volume. Results will be reported in milliliters (mL).
Measured: During surgery (from first incision to final suture).
wound healing
Wound healing will be assessed using the Landry Wound Healing Index, scored from 1 (very poor) to 5 (excellent).
Measured: 1 week and 4 weeks after surgery.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Jul 2026
- Study start1 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Impacted Mandibular Third MolarStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Riphah International UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This is a prospective, two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial. Eligible patients requiring surgical extraction of an impacted mandibular third molar will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either Arm A (scalpel blade incision) or Arm B (electrocautery incision) using a computer-generated randomization sequence. Allocation concealment will be maintained using sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes prepared by a person not involved in surgery or outcome assessment. All other surgical and perioperative conditions will be standardized between the two groups, and postoperative pain, intraoperative blood loss, and wound-healing outcomes will be compared.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 78 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Uzair Luqman, BDS/FCPS, Principal investigator, department of ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY ISLAMIC INTERNATIONAL DENTAL HOSPITAL
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07723326
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IIDC/IRC/2026/7/001
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 20 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 23 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be made publicly available
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of Electrocautery and Scalpel Blade Incisions on Postoperative Pain, Intraoperative Blood Loss, and Wound Healing Following Surgical Extraction of Impacted Mandibular Third Molars: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07723326
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IIDC/IRC/2026/7/001
- Conditions
- Impacted Mandibular Third Molar
- Keywords
- electrocautery, scalpel blade, impacted mandibular third molar
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 78 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 23 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This randomized controlled trial aims to compare electrocautery and scalpel blade incisions during surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. The study will evaluate postoperative pain, intraoperative blood loss, and wound healing in patients undergoing third molar surgery. A total of 78 participants will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a scalpel blade incision or an electrocautery incision under standardized surgical conditions.
Detailed description
Surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars is one of the most common procedures in oral and maxillofacial surgery. The type of incision used may influence postoperative outcomes, including pain, bleeding, and wound healing. Electrocautery offers simultaneous cutting and coagulation, potentially reducing intraoperative blood loss and improving surgical visibility, whereas scalpel incisions produce precise tissue cuts without thermal injury.
This prospective, two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial will compare electrocautery and scalpel blade incisions in patients undergoing surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. Seventy-eight participants will be randomly assigned to either Arm A (scalpel blade incision) or Arm B (electrocautery incision). All other surgical and perioperative variables, including local anesthesia, flap design, irrigation, suture material, and postoperative medications, will be standardized.
The primary outcome is postoperative pain assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale at 24 hours, 48 hours, and 7 days. Secondary outcomes include intraoperative blood loss and wound healing assessed using the Landry Wound Healing Index at 1 and 4 weeks. The findings of this study will provide evidence regarding the most appropriate incision technique for impacted mandibular third-molar surgery.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This is a prospective, two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial. Eligible patients requiring surgical extraction of an impacted mandibular third molar will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either Arm A (scalpel blade incision) or Arm B (electrocautery incision) using a computer-generated randomization sequence. Allocation concealment will be maintained using sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes prepared by a person not involved in surgery or outcome assessment. All other surgical and perioperative conditions will be standardized between the two groups, and postoperative pain, intraoperative blood loss, and wound-healing outcomes will be compared.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| scalpel blade incision group | Experimental | Procedure: scalpel blade incisionParticipants will undergo surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars using a sterile No. 15 scalpel blade for the mucoperiosteal flap incision |
| electrocautery incision group | Experimental | Procedure: electrocautery incisionParticipants will undergo surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars using electrocautery in cutting mode for the mucoperiosteal flap incision |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 15 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Male and female patients.
- Age 15 to 65 years.
- Patients requiring surgical extraction of an impacted mandibular third molar. Patients classified as ASA I or ASA II.
- Patients willing to provide written informed consent, or assent with parent/guardian permission where applicable, and attend scheduled follow-up visits
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- * Patients with uncontrolled systemic disease or immuno-compromised status.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| scalpel blade incisionA sterile No. 15 stainless-steel scalpel blade will be used to make the mucoperiosteal flap incision during surgical extraction of the impacted mandibular third molar. | Procedure or surgery | scalpel blade incision group |
| electrocautery incisionA fine electrocautery electrode in cutting mode at a standardized effective power setting will be used to make the mucoperiosteal flap incision during surgical extraction of the impacted mandibular third molar. | Procedure or surgery | electrocautery incision group |
Primary outcome
postoperative pain
Time frame: 24 hours, 48 hours, and 7 days after surgery.
Postoperative pain at the surgical site will be assessed using a 0-10 Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain
2 secondary outcomes
intraoperative blood loss
Time frame: During surgery (from first incision to final suture).
wound healing
Time frame: 1 week and 4 weeks after surgery.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be made publicly available
Related trials for Impacted Mandibular Third Molar
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Aescin-Based Herbal Extract (Reparil) for Postoperative Sequelae After Mandibular Third Molar Surgery
Postoperative Pain, Facial Swelling
Recruiting
Effect of Collagen Membranes on Distal Periodontal Healing of Second Molars After Impacted Mandibular Third Molar Surgery.
Periodontal Defect
Not yet recruiting
Antibacterial Effect and Soft Tissue Healing of Chlorhexidine-Coated Polyglactin 910 Sutures After Impacted Lower Third Molar Surgery
Impacted Third Molar Tooth, Surgical Wound Healing
Active, not recruiting
Platelet-Rich Fibrin as an Antibiotic Delivery Vehicle in Mandibular Third Molar Surgery
Facial Swelling, Tooth Position Anomalies
Recruiting
Demineralized Dentin Allograft Versus Demineralized Dentin Autograft for Socket Preservation
Alveolar Bone Loss
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Uzair Luqman, BDS/FCPS principal investigator
department of ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY ISLAMIC INTERNATIONAL DENTAL HOSPITAL
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing scalpel blade incision and electrocautery incision in people with Impacted Mandibular Third Molar, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Muhammad Usama, BDS/FCPS (+923325595484, usamakhan123478@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
postoperative pain (time frame: 24 hours, 48 hours, and 7 days after surgery.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Jul 2026.