Objective
To describe the incidence and clinical features of delayed-onset wound infections
after lower third molar extractions in an outpatient clinic.
Study design
Retrospective forward study of 958 lower third molar extractions in the Oral Surgery
and Implantology Department of the School of Dentistry of the University of Barcelona
(Spain).
Results
Fourteen delayed-onset wound infections were recorded after suture removal (1.5% of
the extractions). These infections usually developed 3-5 weeks after extraction. Half
of the cases presented a radiolucency around the crown of the third molar. In most
cases, ostectomy (13/14) and tooth sectioning (11/14) had been made.
Conclusions
Delayed infections were a rare postoperative complication of lower third molars extractions.
Nevertheless, patients should be warned that infection can still occur several weeks
after the surgical procedure.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 07, 2004
Accepted:
June 2,
2004
Received in revised form:
March 3,
2004
Received:
December 29,
2003
Barcelona, SpainUNIVERSITY OF BARCELONA AND TEKNON MEDICAL CENTERIdentification
Copyright
© 2005 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
