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AimProphylactic surgical extraction of impacted third molars is a common practice throughout the world justified on the presumption that the risk of surgical morbidity increases with increasing age, among other reasons. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare surgical morbidity associated with third-molar extractions in young and aging populations.Methods and MaterialsA review of records for all patients who underwent the surgical extraction of impacted third molars between April 2001 and June 2006 at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital was carried out.ResultsA total of 506 patients had surgical extractions of impacted third molars under local anaesthesia during the period of the study. Of these, 470 (92.9 percent) patients were below the age of 40 years (Group A) and 36 (7.1 percent) patients were 40 years of age and older (Group B). No incidences of severe intraoperative complications (excessive bleeding or mandibular fractures) were recorded in either group, but other postoperative complications were reported in 70 (13.8 percent) patients. Of these 70 patients, 65 (92.9 percent) were from Group A and 5 (7.1 percent) were from Group B, and their complications included infected socket, dry socket, paraesthesia, and buccal space abscess.ConclusionsNo significant difference in postoperative complications following surgical removal of mandibular third molars was found between patients 40 years old and greater and those below age 40. Prophylactic surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars, based on the assumption that surgical morbidity increases with age, may not be justifiable.Clinical SignificanceAge does not predispose patients who had surgical extraction of mandibular third molars above 40 years of age to any additional surgical complications when compared to patients below the age of 40 years receiving comparable treatment.CitationAdeyemo WL, Ogunlewe MO, Ladeinde AL, Hassan OO, Taiwo OA. A Comparative Study of Surgical Morbidity Associated with Mandibular Third-Molar Surgery in Young and Aging Populations. J Contemp Dent Pract [Internet]. 2010 July; 11(4):001-008. Available from: http:// www.thejcdp.com/journal/view/volume11-issue4- adeyemo

Aim Extraction healing complications have been attributed to several factors. The influence of trans-operative complications on an extraction site wound healing was the focus of this investigation. Methods and Materials This prospective study was conducted at the Oral Surgery Clinic of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Nigeria . Subjects selected were those referred for one or two adjacent extractions and who satisfied the inclusion criteria for the study. The relevant pre-operative information recorded for each patient were age and sex of patient, indications for extraction, time taken to extract the tooth, tooth/teeth removed, and any trans-operative complications. Extractions were performed with dental forceps, elevators, or both under local anaesthesia. Patients were blindly evaluated on the third and seventh post-operative day for socket healing assessment without reference to preoperative information on the patients. Results Seventy-three (24.25%) of 301 teeth considered for socket healing assessment had various transoperative complications due to accidental crown, root, or alveolar bone fractures. Of the 73 extractions with trans-operative complications during extraction, 18 developed a socket healing complication, while 17 of the 228 extractions without trans-operative complications developed socket healing complications (p = .000). The mean (SD) time taken to extract teeth developing healing complications was also found to be significantly longer than those without healing complications (p < .01). Conclusions The study demonstrated the combination of tooth/bone fragments in the socket and increased time of extraction due to trans-operative complications and accidents predispose to the development of extraction site wound healing disturbance. Citation Adeyemo WL, Ladeinde AL, Ogunlewe MO. Influence of Trans-operative Complications on Socket Healing Following Dental Extractions. J Contemp Dent Pract 2007 January;(8)1:052-059.

Aim The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the clinical pattern of post-extraction wound healing with a view to identify the types, incidence, and pattern of healing complications following non-surgical tooth extraction. Study Design A total of 311 patients, who were referred for non-surgical (intra-alveolar) extractions, were included in the study. The relevant pre-operative information recorded for each patient included age and gender of the patient, indications for extraction, and tooth/teeth removed. Extractions were performed under local anesthesia with dental forceps, elevators, or both. Patients were evaluated on the third and seventh postoperative days for alveolus healing assessment. Data recorded were: biodata, day of presentation for alveolus healing assessment, day of onset of any symptoms, body temperature (°C) in cases of alveolus infection, and presence or absence of pain. Results Two hundred eighty-two patients (282) with 318 extraction sites were evaluated for alveolus healing. Healing was uneventful in 283 alveoli (89%), while 35 alveoli (11%) developed healing complications. These complications were: localized osteitis 26 (8.2%); acutely infected alveolus 5 (1.6%); and an acutely inflamed alveolus 4 (1.2%). Females developed more complications than males (p=0.003). Most complications were found in molars (60%) and premolars (37.1%). Localized osteitis caused severe pain in all cases, while infected and inflamed alveolus caused mild or no pain. Thirty patients (12%) among those without healing complications experienced mild pain. Conclusions Most of the post-extraction alveoli healed uneventfully. Apart from alveolar osteitis (AO), post-extraction alveolus healing was also complicated by acutely infected alveoli and acutely inflamed alveoli. This study also demonstrated a painful alveolus is not necessarily a disturbance of post-extraction site wound healing; a thorough clinical examination must, therefore, be made to exclude any of the complications. Citation Adeyemo WL, Ladeinde AL, Ogunlewe MO. Clinical Evaluation of Post-extraction Site Wound Healing. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 July;(7)3:040-049.