wisdom teeth removal

Wisdom Teeth Removal Can Improve Long Term Taste

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Interesting research appears in the article “Positive Long-Term Effects of Third Molar Extraction on Taste Function,” by Dane Kim and Richard L. Doty appears in Chemical Senses, v.ol 46, pp. 1-5, 2021. The article discusses how patients in the study had improved tasting ability decades after having wisdom teeth removed. This is counter to prior studies that have adverse effects on taste after having wisdom teeth extracted which was believed to dissipate over time. In the article the researchers evaluated data from 1,255 patients who had undergone a chemosensory evaluation at the University of Pennslyvania’s Smell and Taste Center over the course of 20 years. From this group of patients, 891 patients had received wisdom teeth (third molar) extractions and 364 had not. All participants were asked to complete a sip-and-spit whole-mouth taste test with five different concentrations of sucrose, … Read more

Management and Risks of Dry Socket After Wisdom Teeth Removal

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An interesting article titled “Alveolar osteitis: a critical review of the aetiology and management” written by Veale appears in the 2015 edition of Oral Surgery (vol. 8, pp. 68-77). The article attempts to provide guidance on the best treatment and prevention of alveolar osteitis more commonly known as dry socket. Dry socket is a common complication after wisdom teeth removal that typically occurs around 2 to 4 days after surgery. With dry socket there is a total or partial loss of the blood clot from the socket, which results in an inflammatory response and intense pain. Dry socket is believed to occur up to 5% of the time after a wisdom tooth extraction and some studies show it more often occurs after a lower wisdom tooth removal. In the article many risks factors of dry socket are attempted to be … Read more

Quality of Life Impact As a Consideration for Wisdom Teeth Removal

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An interesting editorial titled “Outcomes after 3rd molar surgery: what about quality of life?” written by Ogden appears in the 2014 edition of Oral Surgery (vol. 7, pp. 1-2). The article discusses how there are many complications that can occur after wisdom teeth removal and many of these are mentioned to the patient prior to surgery as part of the informed consent process. Such complications that can occur after wisdom teeth removal are discussed over at http://www.teethremoval.com/complications.html and the informed consent process has been discussed before for example in the post Informed Consent in Dentistry: Can Change Impact Personal Injury Cases? and also http://www.teethremoval.com/legal_system_medical_malpractice. However the article by Ogden dives deep and addresses how patient quality of life outcomes should be disclosed as complications in the informed consent process. The author mentions a 1997 study which showed that 1 week … Read more

Practice Approaches of British Oral Surgeons for Wisdom Teeth Surgery

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An interesting article titled “Current practice in mandibular third molar surgery. A national survey of British Association of Oral Surgeons membership,” written by Devine et al. appears in Oral Surgery in 2017 (vol. 10, pp. 11-19). The article discuss the current practices among member of the British Association of Oral Surgeons (BAOS) for wisdom teeth surgery. The authors conducted a survey of members of the British Association of Oral Surgeons from March to June 2015 where 250 of the 520 total members (48.1%) responded. The most common grade of the respondents was specialty dentist (25.2%), primary care oral surgeon (18.4%), associate specialist (18.0%) and oral surgery consultant (13.4%). About 17% of those who responded said that wisdom teeth removal comprises 75% of their workload and about 36% of those who responded said that wisdom teeth removal comprises between 50 and … Read more

How often do Deep Fascial Space Infections Occur After Wisdom Teeth Extraction?

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An interesting article titled “Incidence of deep fascial space infections following lower third molar removal” written by O’Connor et al. appears in the 2018 edition of Oral Surgery (vol. 11, pp. 17-21). The article seeks to explore how many infections of the deep fascial spaces occur after wisdom teeth removal. The authors say that while an infection is commonly disclosed as a complication following wisdom teeth surgery many patients may not be familiar with the fact that when an infection occurs they may have to be hospitalized, given intravenous antibiotics, and require surgery under general anesthesia which could lead to scarring. These systemic infections can involve deep fascial spaces of the neck, which can lead to endotracheal airway protection, systemic sepsis, and death. In the article a study is conducted using 723 patients who had lower wisdom teeth extracted in … Read more