Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth and periodontal disease association in US adults

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An interesting article titled “Wisdom teeth, periodontal disease, and C-reactive protein in US adults” appears in Public Health written by Y. Zhang and et al. (vol. 187, pp. 97-102, 2020). The study sought to evaluate the associations among the presence of wisdom teeth, periodontal disease, and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) in the US adult population. Periodontal disease is a chronic gum disease which has been linked to many systemic diseases. An elevated level of CRP indicates systemic inflammation as it is a sensitive non-specific biomarker and has been linked to risk for cardiovascular disease. The end goal of the study was to generate population-based evidence to inform heart disease prevention and dental care. In the study the authors performed a secondary data analysis using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2010 data from the national cross-sectional survey conducted … Read more

Taking etoricoxib before Wisdom Teeth Surgery to Help Relieve Pain

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An interesting article titled “Does low dose of etoricoxib play pre-emptive analgesic efect in third molar surgery? A randomized clinical trial” written by Long Xie and et al. appears in BMC Oral Health (vol. 21, no. 462, 2021). The article discusses the results of a randomized clinical trial that explored if a preemptive low dose of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) etoricoxib may reduce the need for analgesics after wisdom teeth extraction. The study the authors conducted was designed as randomized, parallel, double-blinded and placebo-controlled and occurred between August 2019 and July 2020. A total of 56 patients were included in the study that met the inclusion criteria and scheduled to have impacted horizontal mandibular wisdom teeth extracted. The authors found that the mean VAS pain score in the etoricoxib group was significantly lower than that in the placebo group … Read more

Dentist Cuts Chunk out of Cheek and Lip while Patient Has Wisdom Teeth Removed

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A 31 year old woman had a chunk of her cheek and lip taken out while having two wisdom teeth extracted in September 2013 in Watford, England. She was left with permanent nerve damage as a result of the chunk of her cheek and lower lip being taken out with a pair of pliers that slipped while the dentist was performing the surgery. She had to have four stitches to repair the damage. The woman stated that she was in the dental chair for over an hour for just one tooth extraction procedure and had to be given anesthesia twice because of the length of the surgery. The reason for the surgery was due to repeated inflammation of the wisdom teeth. She left the dental office bleeding from her cheek. She also experienced pain and swelling and went back to … Read more

Coronectomy Five Year Follow Up

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An interesting article titled “Coronectomy: A Surgical Option for Impacted Third Molars in Close Proximity to the Inferior Alveolar Nerve—A 5-Year Follow-Up Study,” appears in the 2019 edition of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery written by Monaco et al. The article discusses a study that explores complications up to five years after coronectomy. Coronectomy is often suggested to treat wisdom teeth when there is a high risk of nerve damage see for example Do People Know about Coronectomy For Management of Wisdom Teeth?. In the article the authors build upon a prior study they published that evaluated early or late complications and root migration for up to three years after coronectomy by extending the time period to up to five years after coronectomy. The study evaluated 94 patients who presented for lower wisdom teeth removal at the University … Read more

Intravenous Ketamine During Surgery

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A review articled carried out by the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews titled “Perioperative intravenous ketamine for acute postoperative pain in adults” written by Brinck et al. in 2018 (no. 12, art. no. CD012033) explored the efficacy and safety of intravenous ketamine in adults for pain management while having surgery under general anesthesia. The authors sought randomized, double-blind, controlled trials for inclusion in their analysis. The main outcomes were opioid consumption and pain intensity at 24 and 48 hours after surgery. The authors included 130 studies with 8,341 participants. Types of surgery included wisdom teeth extraction and among many others like lumbar fusion surgery, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair, abdominal surgery, and elective caesarean section. The researchers found by looking at 65 of these studies that perioperative intravenous ketamine reduced postoperative opioid consumption over 24 hours by 8 mg morphine … Read more