Could a cooling mask help to combat toothache after dental surgery?

December 28, 2016

The clear plastic mask moulds around the face and is being tested in an NHS trial
It’s believed to prevent the swelling and pain that follows surgery to extract teeth
By cooling the face and gum tissue, it makes them less likely to bruise and bleed
The removal of teeth triggers an immune response that causes inflammation

Roger Dobson for the Daily Mail

Published:
12:00 EST, 28 December 2016

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Updated:
12:31 EST, 28 December 2016

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A mask that chills the face is being used to combat toothache after dental surgery.

The clear plastic mask, which moulds around the face, is being tested in an NHS trial as a way of preventing the swelling and pain that follows surgery to extract teeth.

The theory is that wearing the mask during and after the procedure cools the face and underlying gum tissue and makes it less likely to swell, bruise and bleed.

The removal of teeth, including wisdom teeth, triggers an immune system reaction that leads to inflammation around the site where teeth are removed.

This triggers the release of various chemicals and causes blood vessels to widen, which leads to bleeding, bruising (where blood accumulates under the skin) and swelling.

The clear plastic mask, which moulds around the face, is being tested in an NHS trial as a way of preventing the swelling and pain that follows surgery to extract teeth

Patients often have pain and can’t open their mouths properly (known as trismus) for days after surgery.

The mask fits snugly across the face with cut-outs for the eyes, nose and mouth, and has tubes through which cool water is piped.

It is based on research that shows cooling down tissue can reduce the activity of inflammatory compounds.

The idea of cold therapy has been around for decades — ice packs, cold compresses and even bags of frozen peas are used to reduce pain and swelling.

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A cool temperature can help as it narrows blood vessels, which limits the flow of blood to the damaged area and reduces the inflammatory response.

The problem is that with these measures the temperature cannot be carefully controlled and maintained, so their effect is limited.

The mask, however, is connected to a small bedside machine that continually pumps cold water in and out of it so a temperature of 15°C is maintained for as long as needed across the face.

Previous research suggests 15°C is the ideal temperature to narrow blood vessels.

The removal of teeth, including wisdom teeth, triggers an immune system reaction that leads to inflammation around the site where teeth are removed

As it’s a mask, it can easily be worn during the procedure, too, which means the inflammatory reaction can be stopped as soon as it is triggered.

Professor Thomas Dietrich, who is leading the trial at Birmingham Dental Hospital, says: ‘The removal of wisdom teeth is arguably the most commonly performed surgical procedure worldwide.

LASERS REDUCE PAIN

Meanwhile, lasers may also help reduce pain and swelling after having a tooth taken out, according to a new study by Positivo University in Brazil.

Some 22 patients had two wisdom teeth removed — one with laser treatment afterwards and the second, a month later, without the laser.

The laser treatment was applied at multiple points around the mouth through a handheld device.

The results, published in the International Journal of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, showed patients had significantly less pain, swelling and trismus a week after they had been given the laser therapy.

Laser light is thought to interact with tissue and help speed up the healing process.

‘If this study shows that application of cold before and throughout the procedure is a simple way to reduce post-operative symptoms, it could benefit thousands of patients every year.’

Wisdom teeth often grow into limited space and can be wedged against existing molars — this can cause swelling, decay or gum disease, and doctors will often recommend they are extracted.

In the trial of 60 patients who are having wisdom teeth taken out, half will wear the mask during the procedure and for two hours afterwards.

The remainder won’t use the mask and will have teeth extracted in the normal way. Both groups will be put under local anaesthetic.

Researchers will compare swelling and pain a week after the procedure.

Commenting on the mask, Tara Renton, a professor in oral surgery at King’s College London, says: ‘Anything that maximises comfort for patients around the time of surgery is welcome.

‘Given the option, I’d provide ice packs for patients, but this isn’t something readily available.

‘There is limited evidence that cooling the face works. One small study on facelifts found that cooling improves swelling, but not pain or bruising.’