BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of preemptive intravenous tenoxicam and methylprednisolone administrations on extraction of impacted third molars.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, clinical trial. A total of 60 adult patients ages 18–40 years with the complaints of impacted third molar teeth were included in the study.

RESULTS: The postoperative swelling ratios (p<0.05) and pain scores (p<0.05) were significantly better in both study groups than in the control group and there was no statistically significant difference between methylprednisolone and tenoxicam groups with regards to the edema and pain relief.

CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative administration of 80 mg methylprednisolone achieves better control of trismus than tenoxicam without any significant differences in edema and pain control in impacted third molar teeth extraction.

Keywords: Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use, Analysis of Variance, Administration, Intravenous, Edema - etiology, Methylprednisolone - therapeutic use, Molar, Third - surgery, Pain - etiology, Pain Measurement, Piroxicam - therapeutic use, Preoperative Care - methods, Tooth Extraction - adverse effects, Trismus - etiology, Turkey