Risk Factors for Delayed Infection After Wisdom Teeth Surgery

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

Kinesio Taping to Help with Complications after Wisdom Teeth Surgery

An interesting article titled “Kinesio Taping as an Adjunct Therapy in Postoperative Care after Extraction of Impacted Third Lower Molars—A Randomized Pilot Study” appears in the Journal of Clinical Medicine written by Piotr Pławecki and et. al. (2023, 12, 2694). The article seeks to study the effectiveness of kinesio taping when compared with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for treating complications after extraction of an impacted lower wisdom tooth. In the article the researchers divided 30 participants into two groups: 15 of the participants had tape applied after wisdom tooth extraction while the other 15 did not. Both groups were told to take 100mg of Ketoprofenum (a NSAID). Patients in the study had a lower impacted wisdom tooth extracted for the following reasons: 1) patients without comorbidities, 2) patients with indications for surgery to remove the impacted lower … Read more

Pseudoaneurysm after wisdom teeth extraction

An interesting article titled “Pseudoaneurysm following “routine” third molar extraction: a case report and review of the literature” appears in the March 2022 edition of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Cases written by J. J. Heifetz-Li and S. Abdelsamie (vol. 8, no. 1,100249). The article presents a case of unusual bleeding following wisdom teeth surgery in a healthy 17 year-old. In the article discussion is made of a 17 year old teenage woman who has her complete bony impacted wisdom teeth extracted at an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery outpatient clinic. She had no known signficant past medical history. The removal of her wisdom teeth was considered to be a routine extraction that involved a distal “hockey stick” incision, to raise the full-thickness mucoperiosteal flap to get to the crowns. The teeth were removed without damaging any nerves nearby and no excessive … Read more

Melatonin to Reduce Pain and Swelling Following Wisdom Teeth Removal

An interesting article titled “The Effect of Local Melatonin Application Following the Removal of an Impacted Mandibular Third Molar” appears in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery written by Shaimaa Mohsen Refahee and et. al. The article seeks to measure the effect of applying melatonin in the socket of an impacted lower wisdom tooth with osteogenic activity, painkilling effect, and anti-inflammatory effect. A prior article exploring the use of melatonin after wisdom teeth extraction has been discussed on this site before see Should Melatonin be Used for Wisdom Teeth Surgery?. In the current article, the authors conducted a prospective, randomized, blinded trial comprised of patients who required removal of the impacted lower wisdom tooth. Melatonin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and promotes osteoblast differentiation and bone formation, which could potentially limit problems like intrabony defects and bone loss associated … Read more

Is it Safe to Not use Suture or Stitches When Removing Wisdom Teeth?

An interesting article titled “Sutureless socket technique after removalof third molars: a multicentric, open, randomized controlled trial” appears in BMC Oral Health written by Sarah Takadoum and et. al. (vol. 22, Article number: 256, 2022). The article conducted a clinical trial to compare pain following removal of impacted wisdom teeth with and without sutures also known as stiches. In the article the authors mentioned how questions remain regarding the best operative techniques during wisdom teeth surgery particularly the mucosal closure stage on impacted mandibular (lower) wisdom teeth. There are some who recommend suturing sockets after extraction, justfying this by saying that it limits bleeding and contamination of the postoperative site to thus improve the quality and speed of healing. There are others who prefer natural healing while the site is closed via cheek pressure. The authors set out to compare postoperative pain … Read more