title: [Complications during and after surgical removal of mandibular third molars. Impact of patient related and anatomical factors].
abstract: The estimation of possible intra- and postoperative complications for surgical removal of third molars in the mandible poses a frequent dilemma in oral surgery. In the present study, the influence of the patient's age and gender, a reduced mouth opening, and the anatomical position of the tooth in the mandible on intra- and postoperative complications were evaluated. In a total of 120 surgically removed third molars, 9.2% intraoperative complications occurred, mainly bleeding. Factors influencing the risk for intraoperative complications were a male patient, a reduced mouth opening, and distally angulated teeth. Postoperative complications were encountered in 6.7%, mainly dry sockets. For this group, a female gender, a higher age, and distally angulated teeth were identified as risk parameters. As most of the patient- and anatomy-related factors are set parameters when evaluating possible risk factors for third molar surgery, only the timepoint of surgery can be influenced by the surgeon. Regarding the increase in intra- and postoperative complications for third molar removal in higher age groups, the prophylactic third molar surgery between the age of 18 and 25 seems justified.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Oralchirurgie und Stomatologie, Zahnmedizinische Kliniken der Universität Bern.
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Voegelin
authors.forename: Valérie G A
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Suter
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bornstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004368:Dry Socket / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012737:Sex Factors; D014081:Tooth Extraction