METHODS: Case records of patients who underwent third molar extractions at the Prince Philip Dental Hospital in Hong Kong between 3 July 2012 and 22 June 2017 were evaluated retrospectively. Data extraction was performed for indications, clinical and radiographic findings, antibiotic treatment, postoperative complications, and treatment for postoperative infection. The odds ratio (OR) for postoperative infection was estimated.
RESULTS: In total, 1615 extracted over 5 years from 992 patient records were included in the final analysis. Antibiotics were prescribed postoperatively for 44% of the extractions. The overall infection rate was 2.05%. There was no significant difference in infection rates between the groups which underwent extractions with or without antibiotics (OR = .68; P = .289). We found a significantly higher risk for infections with increasing age (P = .002).
CONCLUSION: Infection rates after third molar extraction is minimal in the current setting, with no significant benefit from postoperative antibiotic prescription.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of third molar impaction and related pathologic conditions in a cohort of patients living in North-eastern Peninsular Malaysia.
Methods: In this retrospective study, 490 orthopantomograms (OPGs) of patients who were referred to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department between January 2010 and December 2019 were assessed. Data including age, gender, ethnicity, frequency of third molar impactions, their angulations and levels of eruption, retromolar space, and associated pathologic conditions were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.0. The significance level was set to P < 0.05.
Results: A total of 490 patients with a mean age of 28.87 years (range: 20-64) demonstrated 1957 impacted third molars (1022 mandibular + 935 maxillary). Impacted third molars were more likely present in females than males (1:2.20) (p < 0.05); and in Malay-ethnic (44.49%) patients followed by Chinese (34.45%) and Indians (21.02%). Mesioangular was the most common angulation of impaction both in the maxilla (24.68%) and mandible (18.34%). The most common pattern of third molar impaction was IIA (61.67%), and the retromolar space was significantly larger in males (13.6 mm; P < 0.05) than females (11.6 mm). The most frequently occurring pathological condition associated with third molars impaction is dental caries in the second or third molar (15.38%).
Conclusions: This study highlights mesioangular impaction with their occlusal plane at the same level as the occlusal plane of the adjacent tooth being the most prevalent pattern of third molar impaction in North-eastern Peninsular Malaysia.