Does the use of intra-alveolar honey after lower third molar extraction reduce postoperative inflammatory complications? A systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: Oral and maxillofacial surgery Vol. 28; no. 4; pp. 1479 - 1489
• Main Authors: de Souza, Glaciele Maria, Teles, Ana Cláudia Oliveira, Neri, Anna Marina Teixeira Rodrigues, Santos, Karina Kendelhy, Milani, Lara Moreira Jalles, Galvão, Endi Lanza, Falci, Saulo Gabriel Moreira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-12-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Honey; Humans; Inflammation - prevention & control; Mandible - surgery; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Meta-analysis; Molar, Third - surgery; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Pain, Postoperative - etiology; Pain, Postoperative - prevention & control; Postoperative Complications - prevention & control; Review; Systematic review; Tooth Extraction; Tooth, Impacted - surgery; Honey; Systematic review; Exodontia; Third molar
• ISSN: 1865-1569; 1865-1550; 1865-1569
• DOI: 10.1007/s10006-024-01283-6

Background
Protocols are currently being studied in preventing postoperative complications after exodontia.
Purpose
This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate whether the application of intra-alveolar honey reduces inflammatory complications after the extraction of mandibular third molars (CRD 42.023.467.041).
Methods
Searches were carried out in six electronic databases. Clinical trials comparing intra-alveolar honey administration with non-intervention or placebo after mandibular third molar extraction were selected to assess their impact on postoperative inflammatory parameters. The Cochrane ROB 2 tool was used to assess the bias risk in included studies, Stata software to conduct a meta-analysis for quantitative synthesis, and the GRADE system to evaluate the certainty of the evidence.
Results
This systematic review included 5 studies with 330 participants, and two studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated that postoperative pain on the second day [MD: − 1.05; 95% CI − 2 to − 0.1] and fifth day [MD: − 0.97; 95% CI − 1.97 to − 0.03] was lower in the honey group compared to the control group. Total analgesic consumption [MD: − 4.77; 95% CI − 6.73 to − 2.81] was also lower in patients in the intervention group. The descriptive results indicated that honey appears to be beneficial in controlling edema, reducing trismus, and improving healing after extraction of third molars. Alveolar osteitis showed inconclusive results.
Conclusions
The use of intra-alveolar honey after extraction of mandibular third molars seem to be associated with pain reduction. For the other outcomes, the results remain uncertain.