wisdom teeth complications

The Predictive Value of using Panoramic X-Rays for Wisdom Teeth Surgery Complications

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An interesting article titled “Predictive Value of Panoramic Radiography for Injury of Inferior Alveolar Nerve After Mandibular Third Molar Surgery,” appears in the 2017 edition of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (vol. 75, pp. 663-679) written by Su et al. The article sought to explore if panoramic x-rays taken before wisdom teeth removal can predict possible injury of the inferior alveolar nerve. In the article the authors discuss how inferior alveolar nerve injury is the third most common complication following wisdom teeth removal. When inferior alveolar nerve injury occurs numbness of the lip or chin can occur along with difficulty speaking and chewing food. Current studies have shown inferior alveolar nerve injury occurs about 8% of the time after wisdom teeth removal with less than 1% expected to be permanent. Current practice has shown that panoramic x-rays can … Read more

What to do with an Inverted (Upside Down) Impacted Wisdom Tooth?

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An interesting article titled “An unusual case of an inverted and impacted maxillary third molar,” written by Rammal and Alfonso appears in Oral Surgery in 2014 (vol. 7, pp. 109–111). The article discusses a case of an inverted and impacted upper wisdom tooth. In the article the authors discuss how there are seven possible positions that a tooth can be classified into and one of these is the inverted position where the the root apex faces the alveolar crest and the crown faces the maxillary sinus. In such a presentation the tooth appears as if it is growing into the maxillary sinus and the tooth clearly has no use for chewing in the mouth. The authors state: While inverted impacted third molars [wisdom teeth] remain dormant without significant manifestation, removal presents difficulty because of the need to remove large amounts … Read more

Osteomyelitis after Wisdom Teeth Removal can Lead to Multiple Reconstructive Surgeries

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Wisdom teeth removal is not without risks and complications such as osteomyelitits can occur. Osteomyelitits is an inflammation and infection of bone cortex and marrow that develops in the jaw. Some symptoms that can occur with osteomyelitits include high body temperature, increased pain, and neck swelling. In some cases emergency treatment is required to prevent death. In a case in 2012, a 24 year old man woman had an upper left and a lower right wisdom tooth extracted by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Five days after surgery the woman returned to the oral surgeon’s office where he discoveredmild swelling near the lower right wisdom tooth site, without pus, and a large amount of food debris. He irrigated the area, placed gel foam packing, and gave the woman a prescription for penicillin. Ten days after surgery the woman returned to … Read more

Preventing Lingual Nerve Damage After Wisdom Teeth Extraction

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An interesting article titled “Prevention of Lingual Nerve Injury in Third Molar Surgery: Literature Review” written by Pippi et al. appears in the 2017 edition of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (vol. 75, pp. 890-900). The article discusses attempting to identify any factors that could influence if a patient suffers lingual nerve damage after wisdom teeth removal. In the study the authors reviewed previous literature published up until February 2016 that pertained to lingual nerve injuries after wisdom teeth surgery. From the literature review the authors analyzed three different surgical techniques used for wisdom teeth removal: 1) buccal approach, 2) lingual split technique, and 3) buccal approach plus lingual flap retraction in order to determine if their were any differences on lingual nerve injuries. The authors also evaluated the association between nerve damage and tooth sectioning or ostectomy. … Read more

Large Study of Complications after Oral Surgeries

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An interesting article titled “Study on post-operative complications after outpatient treatments” written by van der Sleen et al. appears in the 2013 edition of Oral Surgery. The authors were interested in evaluating the post-operative problems or complaints after surgery by oral and maxillofacial surgeons and the frequency of follow up phone calls or visits after the surgery. The authors devised a study to look at all patients who visited Isala Clinics located in the Netherlands in April 2009. All surgeries were performed by six oral and maxillofacial surgeons and two senior residents and done under local anesthesia. All patients received an antiseptic, chlorhexidine 0.12%, to rinse their mouth with 3 times a day for 7 days after surgery. All patients were also given prescriptions for ibuprofen 600 mg to control pain as needed. The surgeries were grouped into four separate … Read more