title: Incidence and clinical features of delayed-onset infections after extraction of lower third molars.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the incidence and clinical features of delayed-onset wound infections after lower third molar extractions in an outpatient clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective forward study of 958 lower third molar extractions in the Oral Surgery and Implantology Department of the School of Dentistry of the University of Barcelona (Spain).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen delayed-onset wound infections were recorded after suture removal (1.5% of the extractions). These infections usually developed 3-5 weeks after extraction. Half of the cases presented a radiolucency around the crown of the third molar. In most cases, ostectomy (13/14) and tooth sectioning (11/14) had been made.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Delayed infections were a rare postoperative complication of lower third molars extractions. Nevertheless, patients should be warned that infection can still occur several weeks after the surgical procedure.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry of the University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valmaseda-Castellón
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berini-Aytés
authors.forename: Cosme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gay-Escoda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D016008:Statistical Distributions; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology*; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*