Cold Saline Irrigation in Third Molar Surgery: A Novel Approach for Enhanced Healing and Reduced Postoperative Morbidity

This Surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars is one of the most frequently performed oral surgical procedures. The term impaction originates from the Latin word impactus (meaning wedged). An impacted tooth is unable to erupt into functional occlusion and usually requires surgical removal to prevent complications. Among all teeth, mandibular third molars have the highest incidence of impaction, ranging from 16.7% to 68.6% [1]. Postoperative pain, swelling, trismus, and infection remain the most common complications after surgical extraction. Cold saline irrigation during osteotomy has been suggested to reduce thermal injury, minimize inflammation, and enhance healing. This article presents a case report of mandibular third molar removal using cold saline irrigation at 8°C, with favorable postoperative outcomes.