Three-dimensional Morphometric Analysis of the Effectiveness of Kinesio Taping on Postoperative Discomfort Following Mandibular Third Molar Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Split-mouth Study

This study investigates the efficacy of Kinesio taping (KT) in reducing postoperative discomfort, including edema, trismus, and pain, following mandibular third molar extraction. A prospective randomized split-mouth design was employed, involving 7 patients with impacted mandibular third molars. KT was applied immediately postsurgery, and outcomes were assessed on the third and seventh postoperative days using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, 3D morphometric analysis for swelling, and caliper measurements for trismus. Results showed significant reductions in pain, swelling, and trismus on the KT-Treated side compared with the control side. The most notable differences were observed on day 7, where KT demonstrated superior effectiveness in alleviating symptoms. The control group showed improvement over time, but the KT-Treated group experienced faster and more pronounced recovery. In conclusion, KT proved to be a safe and effective method for improving postoperative recovery following mandibular third molar surgery, offering a low-cost, accessible option to enhance patient comfort and quality of life.