Mandibular third molar surgery: A review of common and uncommon complications

Abstract

Background: Third molar surgical extraction is one of the commonest surgical procedures in oral surgery and it is associated with postoperative complications. However, some of these complications are commoner than others and they have variable impacts on the quality of life of the patients.
Objective: To review the common and uncommon complications of third molar surgery as reported in the literature.
Methods: PubMed, ScienceDirect databases, AJOL, and Google scholar literature search was done to identify related articles on complications of mandibular third molar surgical extractions. Other online materials were also reviewed. The search words used were mandibular, third molar, lower jaw, surgical extraction, common, uncommon, and complications
Results: Common complications of third molar surgery identified include; postoperative pain, swelling, trismus, infection, dry socket, inferior alveolar and lingual nerve damage, injury to the adjacent tooth, with their attendant impact on the patient’s quality of life.
Conclusion: Third molar surgical extractions are associated with certain complications and some of them are unavoidable. Therefore, adequate patients’ education and psychological preparation for the procedure and its sequelae are necessary.