title: Treatment of delayed-onset infections after impacted lower third molar extraction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the treatment of delayed-onset infections after lower third molar removal.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was made of 33 delayed-onset infections after impacted lower third molar extraction diagnosed between 2001 and 2005 in the Oral Surgery and Implantology Department of the School of Dentistry of the University of Barcelona, Spain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Antibiotic treatment was effective in 22 patients, whereas the remaining 11 needed an additional surgical procedure to resolve this postoperative complication. Patients with prolonged use of antibiotics after the onset of the infection were more likely to require surgical intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with delayed-onset infections should be treated initially with antibiotics for 7 days. If the infection does not respond favorably within that time, surgical debridement of the extraction site should be done.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, 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: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Laskin
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; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020390:Tooth Socket / Q000601:surgery; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002981:Clindamycin; D000658:Amoxicillin