Postoperative infection after surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars: an analysis of 110 consecutive procedures.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of postoperative infection and other complications after the surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. SUBJECTS AND MATERIALS Medical records of 110 consecutive patients with 130 consecutive surgical extractions of impacted lower third molar teeth performed under local anesthetic using strict aseptic techniques were reviewed and analyzed. No systemic antibiotics were administered or prescribed after the surgery. The rates of postoperative infection and other complications were evaluated clinically. RESULTS Of the 130 surgical removals, 110 in 90 patients met the inclusion criterion of nonuse of antibiotics. Fifty-nine were female and the remaining 31 were male. Average age was 25.2 years. Of the 110 surgeries, postoperative infection occurred in 6 (5.5%). Other complications were alveolar osteitis (n = 9, 8.2%), pain lasting more than 1 week (n = 5, 4.3%) and sensory dysfunction of the inferior alveolar nerve (n = 2,0.8%). CONCLUSION The low rates of postoperative infection and other complications observed in this study encouraged us to continue surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars without routine prescription of antibiotics unless indicated for other medical reasons.