A comparative study of surgical morbidity associated with mandibular third-molar surgery in young and aging populations.
OBJECTIVE
Prophylactic surgical extraction of impacted third molars is a common practice throughout the world justified on the presumption that the risk of surgical morbidity increases with increasing age, among other reasons. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare surgical morbidity associated with third-molar extractions in young and aging populations.


METHODS
A review of records for all patients who underwent the surgical extraction of impacted third molars between April 2001 and June 2006 at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital was carried out.


RESULTS
A total of 506 patients had surgical extractions of impacted third molars under local anaesthesia during the period of the study. Of these, 470 (92.9 percent) patients were below the age of 40 years (Group A) and 36 (7.1 percent) patients were 40 years of age and older (Group B). No incidences of severe intraoperative complications (excessive bleeding or mandibular fractures) were recorded in either group, but other postoperative complications were reported in 70 (13.8 percent) patients. Of these 70 patients, 65 (92.9 percent) were from Group A and 5 (7.1 percent) were from Group B, and their complications included infected socket, dry socket, paraesthesia, and buccal space abscess.


CONCLUSIONS
No significant difference in post-operative complications following surgical removal of mandibular third molars was found between patients 40 years old and greater and those below age 40. Prophylactic surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars, based on the assumption that surgical morbidity increases with age, may not be justifiable.


CONCLUSIONS
Age does not predispose patients who had surgical extraction of mandibular third molars above 40 years of age to any additional surgical complications when compared to patients below the age of 40 years receiving comparable treatment.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Lagos/Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria. lanreadeyemo@yahoo.com
Wasiu L
WL
Adeyemo
Mobolanle O
MO
Ogunlewe
Akinola L
AL
Ladeinde
Olufemi O
OO
Hassan
Olanrewaju A
OA
Taiwo
D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000601:surgery; D004368:Dry Socket / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000209:etiology; D010497:Pericoronitis / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020390:Tooth Socket / Q000473:pathology; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult