Unusual complications associated with third molar surgery: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Surgical Complications
• Dental Procedures

Background:

• Third molar (wisdom tooth) removal is a common surgical procedure.
• Patients are typically informed about well-recognized complications like nerve damage and fractures.
• Oral and maxillofacial surgeons and general dental practitioners must be aware of all potential risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and highlight unusual complications associated with third molar surgery.
• To serve as a reminder of less common adverse events following wisdom tooth extraction.
• To emphasize the importance of recognizing a wide spectrum of potential complications.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of Medline and Cochrane Library databases.
• Hand searching of key texts, references, and reviews.
• Inclusion of English- and German-language articles from the last 18 years, focusing on keywords like 'third molar', 'wisdom tooth', 'complications', 'unusual', and 'rare'.

Main Results:

• Common complications include permanent nerve damage and mandibular fractures.
• Twenty-four unusual complications were identified in 22 articles.
• These rare complications ranged from inflammatory processes and abscesses to life-threatening events like asphyxial death, hemorrhage, and brain abscesses.

Conclusions:

• Awareness of the diverse range of potential complications is essential for optimal patient care.
• Early identification of rare complications is critical for timely and adequate therapeutic intervention.