Late mandibular fracture after third molar surgery: a survey of Connecticut oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the incidence and causative factors involved in late mandibular fractures after third molar surgery.


METHODS
A questionnaire was sent to 106 oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Connecticut, asking them about their experience with late fractures over a 10-year period.


RESULTS
A 79% response indicated 28 fractures occurring in 611,000 extractions, for an incidence of 0.0046%. The cause was found to be multifactorial and included age, gender, type of impaction, preexisting infection, and failure to maintain a soft diet in the postoperative period. Most fractures occurred between the 1st and 21st days postoperatively. Three of the fractures resulted in malpractice litigation.


CONCLUSIONS
Men over the age of 25 years should be specifically informed about the risk of late mandible fracture after third molar surgery. This group of patients should be educated about the quality and duration of a soft diet.
University of Connecticut, Hartford, USA.
P A
PA
Perry
M H
MH
Goldberg
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001732:Bite Force; D003237:Connecticut; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000209:etiology*; D008409:Mastication; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data