Abstract
ObjectivesThe records of 1087 patients who underwent surgical removal of third molar teeth were prospectively examined to analyse the possible relationship between postoperative complications and the surgeon's experience parameter.Method and materialsSeven surgeons (three specialists in surgical dentistry [specialists SD] and four oral and maxillofacial Senior House Officers [OMFS residents]) carried out the surgical procedures. For each patient, several variables were recorded including age, gender, radiographic position of extracted teeth, treating surgeon, duration of surgery and postoperative complications.ResultsAnalysis of the data revealed some differences in the incidence of complications produced by the specialists SD and OMFS residents. The main statistically relevant differences were increase the incidences of trismus, nerve paraesthesia, alveolar osteitis and infection in the resident-treated group, while the specialist-treated group showed higher rates of post-operative bleeding.ConclusionThe higher rate of postoperative complications in the resident-treated group suggests that at least some of the complications might be related to surgical experience.Further work needs to compare specialists of training programmes with different years of experience, using large cross – sectional studies.
Highlights
Dentoalveolar surgery and especially surgical removal of third molar teeth continues to be the most common surgical procedure performed in the speciality of oral & maxillofacial surgery.The surgical removal of third molar teeth may result in a number of complications including pain, swelling, bleeding, alveolar osteitis or nerve dysfunction [1]
An increased rate of postoperative alveolar osteitis, pain and increased duration of surgery was found in the general practitioners group
We found that the Oral and Maxillofacial residents reported a higher incidence of trismus, nerve paraesthesia, alveolar osteitis and infection, while bleeding was the only parameter that showed a higher incidence in the hands of the specialists
Summary
The surgical removal of third molar teeth may result in a number of complications including pain, swelling, bleeding, alveolar osteitis (dry socket) or nerve dysfunction [1]. The factors that usually contribute to such problems are numerous and include the patient, tooth-related and the surgeon's operative experience [2]. This was shown not related to the level of experience but to the type of analgesics administered following the treatment. Berge and Gilhuus-Moe [13] compared postoperative complications following surgical removal of third molars in two groups of patients. Surgery was performed on the first group by four general dental practitioners and on the second group by a consultant oral surgeon. An increased rate of postoperative alveolar osteitis, pain and increased duration of surgery was found in the general practitioners group
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