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Madhulaxmi Marimuthu, SohaibShahzan. Post Extraction Complications - An Institution Based Retrospective Study. Int J Dentistry Oral Sci. 2021;08(03):1911-1914.
1911
OPEN ACCESS https://scidoc.org/IJDOS.php
Post Extraction Complications - An Institution Based Retrospective Study
Research Article
Madhulaxmi1*, SohaibShahzan2
1 Professor, Department of Oral Surgery, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha Univer-
sity, Chennai 600077, India.
2 Research assistant Dental Research Cell Saveetha dental college, Saveetha Institute of medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University,
Chennai 600077, India.
International Journal of Dentistry and Oral Science (IJDOS)
ISSN: 2377-8075
*Corresponding Author:
Madhulaxmi Marimuthu,
Professor, Department of Oral Surgery, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai 600077, India.
Tel: +91 7373814000
Email Id: madhulaxmi@saveetha.com
Received: February 25, 2021
Accepted: March 04, 2021
Published: March 08, 2021
Citation: Madhulaxmi Marimuthu, SohaibShahzan. Post Extraction Complications - An Institution Based Retrospective Study. Int J Dentistry Oral Sci. 2021;08(03):1911-1914.
Copyright: Madhulaxmi Marimuthu©2021. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Introduction
Tooth extraction is one among the common procedures under-
taken in dental clinics [27]. Post extraction complications gen-
erally don't occur, however there are times when the dentist is
faced with post extraction complications [20]. Complications are
unforeseen events that tend to extend from a specic operative
procedure under normal circumstances [33].
Though they are rare, their occurrences results in a protracted
phase of treatment, which is cumbersome to the patient and also
to the clinician [19]. Thus it becomes imperative that the clini-
cian is aware and recognises the entire spectrum of complications
and their implications [30]. Complications are often wide, starting
from common ones like alveolitis and root fracture to uncommon
ones like displacement of a root fragment with in the sinus and
oro-antralstula [14]. Disturbed healing can also complicate or
even jeopardize dental implant placement and other procedures
[17]. Alveolar osteitis (AO) is the most common and most widely
discussed in the literature and is sometimes confused with other
less common complications [5]. Pain is a natural bodily response
to noxious stimuli [13]. In post-extraction wound healing, pain is
a key factor alerting patients to seek professional care out of con-
cern for disturbed healing [26]. Normal uncomplicated alveolus
healing has also been reported to cause moderate to severe pain
[13]. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of post
extraction complication among patients visiting Saveetha Dental
College in a period of 1 year.
Abstract
Tooth extraction is one of the most common procedures under taken in dental clinic. As with any surgical procedure, even
a simple tooth extraction can result in complications. Post extraction complications can be annoying to the patient there by
causing mild morbidity and have an impact in their quality of life. Complications are wide starting from common ones like
alveolitis and root fracture, dry socket, infraction, halitosis, pain, trismus and uncommon ones like displacement of root frag-
ments with in sinus and oral antral stula. The aim of this study was to evaluate post extraction complications among patients
visiting saveetha dental college. This is a retrospective study. We reviewed patient records and analysed the data of 86000
patients between June 2019 and March 2020. From a pooled sample size of 23000 extractions done during this period, data of
patients reporting for post extraction complications were segregated and analysed. The statistical analysis was done using SPSS
Version 20 by IBM. The results were analysed using chi-square test. In this study we observed that among a sample of 23000
simple extractions, only 42 patients had reported back with post extraction complications (0.18%). These complications were
more in males than females. When compared between maxillary and mandibular arch the mandible had more incidence with
54.16%. The most common complication was dry socket (58.34%). Pain as a complication was more in males than in females.
With in the limits of study, the incidence of post extraction complication is more in males than females. Higher incidence of
complication was seen in mandibular arch (54.16%) than in maxillary arch (45.84%).
Keywords: Teeth; Extraction; Complications; Pain; Dry Socket.
Madhulaxmi Marimuthu, SohaibShahzan. Post Extraction Complications - An Institution Based Retrospective Study. Int J Dentistry Oral Sci. 2021;08(03):1911-1914.
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OPEN ACCESS https://scidoc.org/IJDOS.php
Materials and Methods
This is a retrospective study done among patients who visited
Saveetha Dental college and Hospitals during the period June
2019 to March 2020. From a pooled sample size of 23000 ex-
tractions done during this period, data of patients reporting for
post extraction complications were segregated and analysed. The
approval for this university setting study was obtained from the
Institution Ethics Board.
Inclusion criteria: Patients over 18 years, medically t and
healthy with no comorbidities, patients who reported with pain/
swelling/open extraction wound/difculty in mouth opening and
any other complaints after simple dental extraction.
Exclusion criteria: Patients less than 18 years, medically com-
promised patients and patients who underwent trans alveolar ex-
tractions.
We reviewed patient records and analysed the data of 86000 pa-
tients between June 2019 and March 2020. The parameters stud-
ied and tabulated included age, gender, teeth extracted and type
of complications. The data was reviewed by 2 reviewers.
Statistical Analysis:
After further verication by an external reviewer, it was imported
to the SPSS Version 20 by IBM for statistical analysis. Percentages,
mean, standard deviation, frequency of parameter were employed
in the analysis. Chi-square test was used to detect the signicance
between age, gender, site and various complications.
Results and Discussion
Post extraction complications were more in age group above 40
years. Bony spicules, pain management and dry socket were seen
more in this age group. The most common complication in both
age group was dry socket. There were 2 cases of trismus reported
in age group below 40 years and 1 case in age group above 40
years (Graph 1).
Most complications were in mandibular arch than in maxillary
arch (Graph 2). This can be attributed to the anatomical blood
supply to maxilla vs the mandible. It can also be due to more
extractions done in mandibular arch than the maxillary arch.
Though this observation can be of clinical signicance, there was
no statistically signicant difference in complications occurring in
maxillary vs the mandibular.
Prevalence of complications were more in males than in females.
Two cases of trismus were reported in males and one case in fe-
males. 3 cases of bony spicules were reported in males and 2 cases
in females. Same number of cases of dry socket were reported in
males and females (Graph 3).
Surgery and complications go hand in hand. Dental extraction is
a minor surgical procedure which can lead to complications[24].
Although careful attention to surgical details, including proper
patient preparation, asepsis and meticulous management of hard
and soft tissue, controlled force when applying surgical instru-
ments, hemostatis and adequate post operative instruction may
help to reduce the rate of complications, though it has not been
found to eliminate it [1].
The factors that contribute to such complications are numerous
and include the patients compliance and general medical and oral
health, difculty of extraction, surgeons operative experience, etc.
[34]. Other factors found to affect the complication rate include
age and gender of patient [25].
The study sample included were patients mostly treated by den-
Graph 1. Bar chart depicting the post extraction complications in different age groups.
Graph 2. Bar chart depicting the distribution of post extraction complications in maxillary and mandibular arch.
Madhulaxmi Marimuthu, SohaibShahzan. Post Extraction Complications - An Institution Based Retrospective Study. Int J Dentistry Oral Sci. 2021;08(03):1911-1914.
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OPEN ACCESS https://scidoc.org/IJDOS.php
tal graduate students. As the study was done in a university set-
ting, materials used for extraction, technique and post operative
medications were standardised. The study shows higher incidence
of dry socket (58.34%), pain management(25%), bony spic-
ules(10.41), trismus(6.25%).
Dry socket was the most common complication [3]. Similar re-
sults were observed in a study by Adeyemo et al [3]. In a histo-
logical study, Amler reported AO results from disturbances in the
progression of healing from blood clot to granulation tissue [7].
Failure or interference in the mechanism of the granulation tissue
development to replace the clots results in disintegration of the
blood clot by putrefaction rather than by orderly resorption, giv-
ing rise to the well-known symptoms of dry socket [7].
Post operative pain management was more in males than in fe-
males.This may be due to various habits like smoking, alcohol,
tobacco which are more common in males than in females [20].
And, also pain tolerance is generally said to be more in females
than in males [1]. And, there are many studies which show that
men more often complained of post operative pain than women
[15]. Proper analgesic protocol can be taken to reduce pain [32].
Regardless of pain severity, one should seek to optimize “around-
the-clock” dosages of these agents and then, if necessary, add an
opioid to the regimen as needed for breakthrough pain [10].
The percentage of bony spicules was found to be 10.41%. After
tooth extraction, bone spicules should be removed, because they
may result in an obstruction in placing a prosthetic restorative ap-
pliance [16]. Alveoloplasty can be done to remove bony spicules,
prior to prosthetic rehabilitation [18].
Incidence of trismus was found to be 6.25%. The factors contrib-
uting to trismus are: Low-grade infection post administration of
local anesthetic agents [9]. Multiple needle penetrations correlate
with a greater incidence of post injection trismus. This complica-
tion is especially noted when injections were given using barbed
needle. The most commonly involved muscle is medial pterygoid
during inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) block [9]. It has been hy-
pothesised that trauma to this muscle, can cause microbleeding,
hematoma formation and trismus. Elevation of ap beyond the
external oblique ridge can also result in postoperative edema and
there by pain and difculty while opening the mouth [29].
At times, the patient hurts his/her own tongue or cheek under the
effect of anesthesia resulting in reex trismus [9]. Physiotherapy
treatments may be required to establish normal function (exer-
cises will include neck stretching, chin tuck, massaging of masti-
catory muscles, and other jaw stretching) [6]. Mandibular opening
devices might be considered in some cases, but most likely pro-
vided by a physiotherapist or dental specialist [6].
Complications were more in age group above 40 the older adults
than in age group below 40 the younger adults [4]. The possible
reasons might be due to decreased healing potential and dense
bone [31]. Increase in neurosensory problems in patients above
24 years was reported in a study [11]. Post extraction complica-
tions were more prevalent in males than in females. As mentioned
earlier this may be due to various habits in males. However there
are studies which show that complications are more in females
than in males [8].
A higher incidence of complication was seen in extraction carried
out in mandible (54.16%) as compared to maxilla (45.84%) [35].
This may be due to anatomical factors including dense cortical
bone and comparatively lesser vascularity in mandible as com-
pared to maxilla which has a good blood supply [35].
Conclusion
With in the limits of study, overall percentage of post extraction
complications are signicantly very minimal (0.18%). Among
those reported, post extraction complications are more in older
males and affecting the mandibular arch (54.16%). From this
study, it can be inferred that proper surgical technique and proto-
cols; post extraction instructions; patient compliance and motiva-
tion with good analgesics prescribed postoperatively, complica-
tions can be avoided to a great extent in simple extractions.
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