In a retrospective study among 550 Helsinki University students 20 to 30 years old, factors predisposing to postoperative complications from removal of lower jaw wisdom teeth were evaluated. Patient records and panoramic tomograms covering the period from 1990 to 1993 were examined; 50 patients (9.1%) had postoperative complications after removal of a wisdom tooth. The most common complications were alveolar osteitis (2.9%), postoperative infection (2.6%), postoperative bleeding (1.5%), and dysesthesia of the lower lip or tongue (1.1%). Factors associated with increased postoperative complications were mesiohorizontal position of the tooth, deep impaction of the tooth, and use of oral contraceptives. Before patients undergo surgery for removal of wisdom teeth, those who use oral contraceptives or have difficult tooth impactions should be informed about the increased possibility of postoperative complications.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.