• Pairoje Sriaroon B.Sc., D.D.S., Dip.Th.B. (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery)
• Chunsuk Tunjalern
• Yupapan Jamonniem
• Supichaya Khameiam

Objectives To explore the relations of the positions of impacted mandibular third molar and the
operation time to the complications after surgical removal of the impaction.

Materials and methods Before surgery, all biostatistic data of the patients and radiographic
assessment of the impacted tooth were recorded. From 84 healthy patients, 98 impacted teeth were
surgically removed by the dental students in the fifth or the sixth year under a careful supervision of
one oral and maxillofacial surgeon. The starting time was recorded at the commencement of an
incision and the completion time when the gauze being bitten by the patient. Uniformly, all patients
were instructed with post-surgical care and prescribed with an analgesic drug. During each visit
of an everyday-follow-up for 1 week, their surgical wounds were inspected and a subjective investigation
for complications, if any, was performed. Stitch removal was done on the seventh visit.

Results The overall complication rate was 56.12%. The observed complications were traumatic
ulcer (24.49%), trismus (14.29%), occlusal trauma (8.16%), haemorrhage (4.08%), dry socket (4.08%),
and ecchymosis (1.02%). Mesioangular and distoangular impaction were associated with high
probabilities in an induction of complications. Impacted teeth with Class I position possessed as
high the probability as those with Class II. A surgical time over 60 minutes tended to increase
the number and types of complications.

Conclusion The avoidable post-surgical complications may be the result of an operatorûs inadequate
carefulness, despite an easy position of the impaction. A longer surgical time plays an important
role in the addition of complication number and types.

(CU Dent J. 2005;28:211-20)