Peter D Waite1, Sai Cherala. 1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL 35294-0007, USA. pwaite@uab.edu
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify surgical outcomes in third molar surgery when no sutures are used for primary closure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 1,280 third molars were removed from 366 patients in an outpatient setting using intravenous sedation and local anesthesia. A small V-shaped flap was raised in all cases and no sutures were placed over a 2-year period (2001 to 2003). All people were contacted by a registered nurse within 24 hr. All records were reviewed by a medical investigator and IRB approval was obtained. RESULTS: The mean age was 22.14 years, males 39%, females 61%, white 75%, African American 22%, and Asian 3%. Ninety-three people of 366 experienced at least 1 complaint. Alveolar osteitis was 2.81% for the total teeth extracted and 10.7% for the mandibular Class IV impactions. A total of 652 mandibular third molars were removed (Class III, n= 113; Class IV, n= 522). Forty-eight of 366 patients (13.1%) had postoperative diagnosis of alveolar osteitis. CONCLUSIONS: Small flap third molar surgery without sutures is less invasive and saves time. Delayed healing in oral surgery is not new. The outcome of 1,280 extractions demonstrates good results.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify surgical outcomes in third molar surgery when no sutures are used for primary closure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 1,280 third molars were removed from 366 patients in an outpatient setting using intravenous sedation and local anesthesia. A small V-shaped flap was raised in all cases and no sutures were placed over a 2-year period (2001 to 2003). All people were contacted by a registered nurse within 24 hr. All records were reviewed by a medical investigator and IRB approval was obtained. RESULTS: The mean age was 22.14 years, males 39%, females 61%, white 75%, African American 22%, and Asian 3%. Ninety-three people of 366 experienced at least 1 complaint. Alveolar osteitis was 2.81% for the total teeth extracted and 10.7% for the mandibular Class IV impactions. A total of 652 mandibular third molars were removed (Class III, n= 113; Class IV, n= 522). Forty-eight of 366 patients (13.1%) had postoperative diagnosis of alveolar osteitis. CONCLUSIONS: Small flap third molar surgery without sutures is less invasive and saves time. Delayed healing in oral surgery is not new. The outcome of 1,280 extractions demonstrates good results.
Authors: Edmund Bailey; Wafa Kashbour; Neha Shah; Helen V Worthington; Tara F Renton; Paul Coulthard Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2020-07-26