Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the complications that were associated with the surgical removal of third molars (M3s), and to assess the association of patient, anatomic, and surgical risk factors with the postoperative complications of surgically removed impacted M3s. Material and Methods: This study was a cohort prospective study conducted on patients, aged 17 and older, admitted to the oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic. All patients who needed 1 or more extractions were included and totalled 268 patients with 314 extracted teeth. Risk factors were divided into patient factors, anatomic factors and surgical factors. The postoperative complication variables mainly included: pain, alveolar osteitis, infection, bleeding, swelling, trismus. Statistical analysis used: Chi-square test was used for the bivariate analyses while Pearson correlation coefficient (1- tailed) test was used for the purpose of determining the association between the study variables. The significance of associations was considered statistically significant at P < 0.05. Results: Patients aged of 25 years and above experienced more complications, 39 (88.6%). With respect to gender, females experienced more complications, 29 (65.9%). Mandibular M3s had more complications than maxillary M3s, 34 (8.0%), followed by distoangular inclined M3s, 23 (52.3%), and last was full bony impaction, 13 (29.5%). Pain was the most frequent complication, 18 (40.9%), followed by alveolar osteitis 12 (27.3%). Conclusion: The results indicated that the most frequently complications were pain, infection, alveolar osteitis. These complications were associated with common risk factors such as age, gender, medical history, M3 angulation, impaction level, bone removal, tooth sectioning, and number of M3 removed per session. Keywords Complications; Surgical extraction; Third molar.
Highlights
The removal of third molars (M3s) is one of most common procedures practiced in oral and maxillofacial surgery clinics. [1] This procedure is frequently associated with complications including pain, bleeding, swelling, alveolar osteitis, infection, trismus, oro-antral communication, and infrequently associated with fracture of the mandible and/ or maxillary tuberosity and paraesthesia of the inferior alveolar and/or lingual nerves. [2,3]These complications have been reported to range from minor distress to more complicated outcomes
The aim of this study was to establish the occurrence of complications that were associated with the surgical removal of M3s, and to assess the association of patient, anatomic, and surgical risk factors with the postoperative complications of impacted M3 surgical removal
Our study findings showed that diabetic patients and patients on oral contraceptives experienced more complications, which concurs with the results of previous studies. [7,18,19] The literature has validated a positive association between oral contraceptives and postoperative complications due to the interferences with the healing process
Summary
[2,3] These complications have been reported to range from minor distress to more complicated outcomes. Most of these complications are transitory, if managed properly; identifying and estimating these complications and reducing their severity is regarded as one of the primary responsibilities of oral and maxillofacial surgeons. It is projected that dental practitioners would benefit from knowing the risk factors that are linked with postoperative complications of M3s surgical extraction. This knowledge will empower practitioners to evade subjecting patients to such complications while carrying out M3 removal surgery. The aim of this study was to establish the occurrence of complications that were associated with the surgical removal of M3s, and to assess the association of patient, anatomic, and surgical risk factors with the postoperative complications of impacted M3 surgical removal
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