The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Age-Related Third Molar Study

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the frequency of complications of third molar surgery, both intraoperatively and postoperatively, specifically for patients 25 years of age or older.

This prospective study evaluated 3,760 patients, 25 years of age or older, who were to undergo third molar surgery by oral and maxillofacial surgeons practicing in the United States. The predictor variables were categorized as demographic (age, gender), American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, chronic conditions and medical risk factors, and preoperative description of third molars (present or absent, type of impaction, abnormalities or association with pathology). Outcome variables were intraoperative and postoperative complications, as well as quality of life issues (days of work missed or normal activity curtailed). Frequencies for data collected were tabulated.

The sample was provided by 63 surgeons, and was composed of 3,760 patients with 9,845 third molars who were 25 years of age or older, of which 8,333 third molars were removed. Alveolar osteitis was the most frequently encountered postoperative problem (0.2% to 12.7%). Postoperative inferior alveolar nerve anesthesia/paresthesia occurred with a frequency of 1.1% to 1.7%, while lingual nerve anesthesia/paresthesia was calculated as 0.3%. All other complications also occurred with a frequency of less than 1%.

The findings of this study indicate that third molar surgery in patients 25 years of age or older is associated with minimal morbidity, a low incidence of postoperative complications, and minimal impact on the patients quality of life.