Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Can Kinesio taping improve discomfort after mandibular third molar surgery? A systematic review and meta-analysis

  • Review
  • Published:
Clinical Oral Investigations Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether Kinesio taping (KT) can improve patient discomfort after mandibular third molar surgery.

Materials and methods

This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the PICO strategy. We searched 4 databases for related articles. All controlled trials or randomized controlled trials that evaluated the application of KT after mandibular third molar surgery were included. Screening and article selection were carried out by two independent reviewers. The main evaluation indicators were facial swelling, pain, and trismus. All statistical analyses were conducted using Review Manager 5.3 software.

Result

This analysis included 8 articles. The combined results showed that compared with the control group, the postoperative application of KT significantly reduced pain in the early (early stage mean difference (MD), − 2.00; 95% confidence interval (CI), − 2.40 to − 1.60; P < 0.00001) and late (late stage MD, − 1.18; 95% CI, − 2.26 to − 0.11; P = 0.03) postoperative periods and, thus, reduced the intake of painkillers. KT also reduced facial swelling in the early and late postoperative periods (early stage standardized mean difference (SMD), − 1.34; 95% CI, − 1.99 to − 0.68; P < 0.0001; late stage SMD, − 0.31; 95% CI, − 0.51 to − 0.11; P = 0.002). In addition, the postoperative application of KT improved restricted mouth opening in the early and late postoperative periods (early stage MD, − 5.03 mm; 95% CI, − 6.32 to − 3.74 mm; P < 0.00001; late stage MD, − 3.42 mm; 95% CI, − 5.31 to − 1.52 mm; P = 0.0004).

Conclusion

KT can significantly reduce postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus after impacted mandibular tooth extraction. Additional high-quality and rigorously designed randomized controlled trials should be conducted to verify these conclusions.

Clinical relevance

KT is a low-cost, simple, effective nondrug therapy for the postoperative management of mandibular third molar extraction and has broad prospects for clinical application.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gadiwalla Y, Moore R, Palmer N, Renton T (2021) Where is the ‘wisdom’ in wisdom tooth surgery? A review of national and international third molar surgery guidelines. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 50:691–698

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Shoshani-Dror D, Shilo D, Ginini J, Emodi O, Rachmiel A (2018) Controversy regarding the need for prophylactic removal of impacted third molars: an overview. Quintessence Int 49:653–662

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Carter K, Worthington S (2016) Predictors of third molar impaction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Dent Res 95:267–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Candotto V, Oberti L, Gabrione F, Scarano A, Rossi D, Romano M (2019) Complication in third molar extractions. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents 33:169–172

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Duarte-Rodrigues L, Miranda E, Souza T, de Paiva H, Falci S, Galvão E (2018) Third molar removal and its impact on quality of life: systematic review and meta-analysis. Qual Life Res 27:2477–2489

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. O’Hare P, Wilson B, Loga M, Ariyawardana A (2019) Effect of submucosal dexamethasone injections in the prevention of postoperative pain, trismus, and oedema associated with mandibular third molar surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 48:1456–1469

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Almeida R, Lemos C, de Moraes S, Pellizzer E, Vasconcelos B (2019) Efficacy of corticosteroids versus placebo in impacted third molar surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 48:118–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Bailey E, Worthington H, van Wijk A, Yates J, Coulthard P, Afzal Z (2013) Ibuprofen and/or paracetamol (acetaminophen) for pain relief after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 12(12):CD004624

  9. Liu S, You Z, Ma C, Wang Y, Zhao H (2018) Effectiveness of drainage in mandibular third molar surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Oral Maxillof Surg 76:1640–1650

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Domah F, Shah R, Nurmatov U, Tagiyeva N (2021) The use of low-level laser therapy to reduce postoperative morbidity after third molar surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 79(2):313.e1–313.e19

  11. Ouyang J, Chang K, Hsu W, Cho Y, Liou T, Lin Y (2018) Non-elastic taping, but not elastic taping, provides benefits for patients with knee osteoarthritis: systemic review and meta-analysis. Clin Rehabil 32:3–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Melese H, Alamer A, HailuTemesgen M, Nigussie F (2020) Effectiveness of Kinesio taping on the management of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Pain Res 13:1267–1276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Kasawara K, Mapa J, Ferreira V, Added M, Shiwa S, Carvas N et al (2018) Effects of Kinesio Taping on breast cancer-related lymphedema: a meta-analysis in clinical trials. Physiother Theory Pract 34:337–345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Lietz-Kijak D, Kijak E, Krajczy M, Bogacz K, Łuniewski J, Szczegielniak J (2018) The impact of the use of Kinesio taping method on the reduction of swelling in patients after orthognathic surgery: a pilot study. Med Sci Monit 24:3736–3743

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. CoskunBenlidayi I, Salimov F, Kurkcu M, Guzel R (2016) Kinesio Taping for temporomandibular disorders: Single-blind, randomized, controlled trial of effectiveness. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil 29:373–380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Ristow O, Pautke C, Kehl V, Koerdt S, Hahnefeld L, Hohlweg-Majert B (2014) Kinesiologic taping reduces morbidity after oral and maxillofacial surgery: a pooled analysis. Physiother Theory Pract 30:390–398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Tozzi U, Santagata M, Sellitto A, Tartaro G (2016) Influence of Kinesiologic tape on post-operative swelling after orthognathic surgery. J Maxillofac Oral Surg 15:52–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Tatli U, Benlidayi IC, Salimov F, Guzel R (2020) Effectiveness of kinesio taping on postoperative morbidity after impacted mandibular third molar surgery: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study. J Appl Oral Sci 28:e20200159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. da Rocha Heras ACT, de Oliveira DMS, Guskuma MH, de Araujo MC, Fernandes KBP, da Silva Junior RA et al (2020) Kinesio taping use to reduce pain and edema after third molar extraction surgery: a randomized controlled split-mouth study. J Craniomaxillofac Surg 48:127–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Stewart L, Clarke M, Rovers M, Riley R, Simmonds M, Stewart G et al (2015) Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses of individual participant data: the PRISMA-IPD Statement. JAMA 313:1657–1665

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Higgins J, Altman D, Gøtzsche P, Jüni P, Moher D, Oxman A et al (2011) The Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials. BMJ 343:d5928

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Corbett M, Higgins J, Woolacott N (2014) Assessing baseline imbalance in randomised trials: implications for the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Res Synth Methods 5:79–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Mathur M, VanderWeele T (2020) Sensitivity analysis for unmeasured confounding in meta-analyses. J Am Stat Assoc 115:163–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Mathur M, VanderWeele T (2020) Sensitivity analysis for publication bias in meta-analyses. J R Stat Soc: Ser C: Appl Stat 69:1091–1119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Marušić M, Fidahić M, Cepeha C, Farcaș L, Tseke A, Puljak L (2020) Methodological tools and sensitivity analysis for assessing quality or risk of bias used in systematic reviews published in the high-impact anesthesiology journals. BMC Med Res Methodol 20:121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Willis B, Riley R (2017) Measuring the statistical validity of summary meta-analysis and meta-regression results for use in clinical practice. Stat Med 36:3283–3301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Ioannidis J, Trikalinos T, Zintzaras E (2006) Extreme between-study homogeneity in meta-analyses could offer useful insights. J Clin Epidemiol 59:1023–1032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Li T, Hua F, Dan S, Zhong Y, Levey C, Song Y (2020) Reporting quality of systematic review abstracts in operative dentistry: an assessment using the PRISMA for Abstracts guidelines. J Dent 102:103471

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Yurttutan M, Sancak K (2020) The effect of kinesio taping with the web strip technique on pain, edema, and trismus after impacted mandibular third molar surgery. Niger J Clin Pract 23:1260–1265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Ristow O, Hohlweg-Majert B, Sturzenbaum SR, Kehl V, Koerdt S, Hahnefeld L et al (2014) Therapeutic elastic tape reduces morbidity after wisdom teeth removal–a clinical trial. Clin Oral Investig 18:1205–1212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Menziletoglu D, Guler A, Basturk F, Isik B (2020) Comparison of surgical drain placement with use of kinesiologic tape on postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus in impacted mandibular third molar surgery. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 78(11):1919.e1–1919.e7

  32. Kho Chai Chiang NSB, Siva Kalyan U, Sai Bhavana R (2020) Use of Kinesiologic therapeutic tape on pain, trismus, swelling and its influence on quality of life after mandibular third molar surgery. J Clin Diagn Res 14(5):ZC13–ZC17

  33. Jaroń A, Preuss O, Grzywacz E, Trybek G (2021) The impact of using Kinesio tape on non-infectious complications after impacted mandibular third molar surgery. Int J Environ Res Public Health 18(2):399

  34. Gozluklu O, Ulu M, Gozluklu HO, Yilmaz N (2020) Comparison of different Kinesio taping techniques after third molar surgery. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 78:695–704

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Liu S, Zhao H, Wang Y, Zhao H, Ma C (2019) Oral bromelain for the control of facial swelling, trismus, and pain after mandibular third molar surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 77:1566–1574

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Cho H, Lynham A, Hsu E (2017) Postoperative interventions to reduce inflammatory complications after third molar surgery: review of the current evidence. Aust Dent J 62:412–419

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Erdil A, Akbulut N, Altan A, Demirsoy MS (2020) Comparison of the effect of therapeutic elastic bandage, submucosal dexamethasone, or dexketoprofen trometamol on inflammatory symptoms and quality of life following third molar surgery: a randomized clinical trial. Clin Oral Investig 25(4):1849–1857

  38. do Nascimento-Júnior E, Dos Santos G, Tavares Mendes M, Cenci M, Correa M, Pereira-Cenci T et al (2019) Cryotherapy in reducing pain, trismus, and facial swelling after third-molar surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. J Am Dent Assoc (1939) 150:269-277.e261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Genc A, Cakarer S, Yalcin BK, Kilic BB, Isler SC, Keskin C (2019) A comparative study of surgical drain placement and the use of kinesiologic tape to reduce postoperative morbidity after third molar surgery. Clin Oral Investig 23:345–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Dentistry, Ningbo Stomatology Hospital, 315000, Ningbo, China

    Yushan Wang

  2. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Ningbo Stomatology Hospital, 315000, Ningbo, China

    Xiaomeng Zhu

  3. Department of Orthodontics, Ningbo Stomatology Hospital, 315000, Ningbo, China

    Jing Guo & Jianfeng Sun

  4. Ningbo Stomatology Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, 315000, Ningbo, China

    Yushan Wang, Xiaomeng Zhu, Jing Guo & Jianfeng Sun

Authors
  1. Yushan Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiaomeng Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jing Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jianfeng Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jianfeng Sun.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

Not required.

Consent to participate

Not required.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 33 KB)

Supplementary file2 (PDF 89 KB)

Appendix

Appendix

Search strategies.

Web of science

#1: TS = (Molars, Third OR Third Molar OR Third Molars OR Tooth, Wisdom OR Wisdom Tooth OR Teeth, Wisdom OR Wisdom Teeth OR Molar, Third) 18,799.

#2: TS = (Bandage OR Dressings OR Dressing OR Tape, Athletic OR Orthotic Tape OR Tape, Orthotic OR Kinesio Tape OR Kinesio Tap* OR Tape, Kinesio OR Tapes, Kinesio OR Athletic Tape) 102,459.

#3: TS = #1 AND #2 69.

PubMed

#1: “Molar, Third” 6625.

#2: (Molars, Third) OR Third Molar) OR Third Molars) OR Tooth, Wisdom) OR Wisdom Tooth) OR Teeth, Wisdom) OR Wisdom Teeth) 14,526.

#3: #1 OR #2 14,526

#4 “bandages” [Mesh] 25,226.

#5 (Bandage) OR Dressings) OR Dressing)) OR “Bandages” [Mesh]) OR ((((((((((Tape, Athletic) OR Orthotic Tape) OR Tape, Orthotic) OR Kinesio Tape) OR Kinesio Tapes) OR Tape, Kinesio) OR Tapes, Kinesio) OR Kinesiotape) 53,519.

#6 #4 OR #5 53,519

#7 #3 AND #6 56

Cochrane Library

#1: Molars, Third:ti,ab,kw or Third Molar:ti,ab,kw or Third Molars:ti,ab,kw or Tooth, Wisdom:ti,ab,kw or Wisdom Tooth:ti,ab,kw or Teeth, Wisdom:ti,ab,kw or Wisdom Teeth:ti,ab,kw or Molar, Third 11,633.

#2: Bandage:ti,ab,kw or Dressings:ti,ab,kw or Dressing:ti,ab,kw or Tape, Athletic:ti,ab,kw or Orthotic Tape:ti,ab,kw or Tape, Orthotic:ti,ab,kw or Kinesio Tape:ti,ab,kw or Kinesio Tap*:ti,ab,kw or Tape, Kinesio:ti,ab,kw or Tapes, Kinesio:ti,ab,kw or Athletic Tape 8494.

#3: #1 AND #2 36

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, Y., Zhu, X., Guo, J. et al. Can Kinesio taping improve discomfort after mandibular third molar surgery? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Oral Invest 25, 5139–5148 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-021-04069-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-021-04069-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation