Abstract
Objectives: Wound dehiscences after lower third molar surgery potentially extend the time of
postsurgical treatment and may cause long-lasting pain. It was the aim of this prospective
study to evaluate the primary wound healing of 2 different flap designs. Methods: Sixty completely covered lower third molars were removed. In 30 cases, the classic
envelope flap with a sulcular incision from the first to the second molar and a distal
relieving incision to the mandibular ramus was used, whereas the other 30 third molars
were extracted after preparation of a modified triangular flap first similarly described
by Szmyd. Wound healing was controlled on the first postoperative day, as well as
1 and 2 weeks after surgery. Results: The overall result was a total of 33% wound dehiscence. In the envelope-flap group,
wound dehiscences developed in 57% of the cases. This represents a relative risk ratio
of 5.67, with a 95% CI from 1.852 to 12.336. With the modified triangular-flap technique,
only 10% of the wounds gaped during wound healing. Conclusion: This study confirms evidence that the flap design in lower third molar surgery considerably
influences primary wound healing. The modified triangular flap is significantly less
conducive to the development of wound dehiscence. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2002;93:7-12)
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
August 13,
2001
Received in revised form:
June 8,
2001
Received:
April 12,
2001
Footnotes
*Reprint requests: Norbert Jakse, MD, DDS, Department for Oral Surgery and Radiology, Dental School, Karl-Franzens University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 12, 8036 Graz, Austria, [email protected]
Identification
Copyright
© 2002 Mosby, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
