wisdom teeth complications

Family of Teen who Died During Wisdom Teeth Removal in Washington State Files Lawsuit

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What should have been a routine wisdom tooth removal tragically ended in the death of 17-year-old male. The oral surgeon, allegedly failed to recognize and properly respond to a common anesthesia-related complication, leading to the teens death in June of 2024 . On December 9th 2024, the parents of the deceased teen filed a lawsuit against the oral surgeon in Washington state, alleging medical malpractice and negligence. “Double Duty” Surgery Raises Concerns: The lawsuit claims that the oral surgeon acted as both the surgeon and the anesthesiologist during the procedure, a practice that increases the risk of complications. “With almost all surgeries, it is standard practice for anesthesia to be administered by someone devoting their full attention to the patient,” stated one of the lawyers, representing the family. “When a surgeon splits their jobs to double their profits, it opens … Read more

Using Low Dose Naltrexone for Treating Burning Mouth Syndrome

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An interesting article titled “Low Dose Naltrexone for Treatment of Burning Mouth Syndrome” appears in Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, and Oral Radiology written by L. Sangalli and C. S. Miller (Published April 30, 2022). The article discusses using a low dosage of naltrexone to treat burning mouth syndrome (BMS) that started after a woman had a tooth extraction. In the article discussion is made of a 62 year old woman who had been experiencing BMS the the last three years. She had had a tooth extracted three years earlier and the pain she was experiencing was at the site of the extraction. After some time pain went away but then a year or so after the extraction the woman began experiencing BMS at the dorsum of her tongue. She reported tingling and burning sensations and the pain flucated between … Read more

Coated gauze may help with pain and dry socket after wisdom teeth removal

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An interesting article titled “Retrospective analysis for predictors of postsurgical complications from third molar extraction with use of oxytetracycline–hydrocortisone-coated gauze inserted in extraction socket” appears in Oral Science International, written by Sayumi Matsuda and et. al. and published on June 15, 2023. The article sought to explore a study of a technique of inserting gauze coated with oxytetracycline–hydrocortisone ointment into a wisdom tooth extraction socket and look at the occurence of dry socket and pain when compared to a those without the gauze. The researchers applied the gauze technique to 286 patients who had lower wisdom teeth removed. The authors found the incidence of dry socket after extraction was 1.05% (with a 95% confidence interval of 0.22% to 3.03%) and the incidence of post-extraction infection was 0.35% (with a 95% confidence interval of 0.01% to 1.91%). These percentages were lower … Read more

Woman dies after wisdom tooth extraction in Brazil

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A 23 year old woman in Brazil had wisdom teeth extracted on May 10, 2023 in Brazil. Two days later she returned to the dental clinic complaining about pain at the extraction site. After being evaulated at the clinic the woman was sent home. The next day her pain continued and she sought care at a local Emergency Room. The woman was discharged. The woman’s pain continued and she went back to the Emergency Room the next day and was again discharged. On May 15, 2023, the woman returned to see her dentist and the dentist referred her to a Hospital. The woman was found to have an acute facial infection and a dental abscess in the location where the wisdom tooth was extracted. The woman was given medication to help with her infection. Unfortunately two days later the woman … Read more

Risk Factors for Delayed Infection After Wisdom Teeth Surgery

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An interesting article titled “Risk Factors for Delayed-Onset Infection after Mandibular Wisdom Tooth Extractions” written by A.M. Smith et al., appeared in Healthcare in 2023. The article investigated the risk factors for delayed-onset infection (DOI) after lower wisdom teeth extractions. Delayed-onset infection (DOI) is a potential complication of wisdom tooth extraction that occurs one to four weeks after surgery. Even with precautions, such the use of antibiotics and not smoking and following good oral hygiene after surgery delayed-onset infection can occur with a reported incidence from 0.5% to 1.8%. Prior studies have shown that the depth and the tilt of the tooth axis of the lower wisdom tooth are risk factors for local delayed-onset infection and the development of delayed-onset infection is related to the space distal to the second molar. The authors of the current study sought to identify … Read more