Research

Experience versus complication rate in third molar surgery

Waseem Jerjes¹ , Mohammed El-Maaytah² , Brian Swinson³ , Bilquis Banu⁴ , Tahwinder Upile⁵ , Sapna D'Sa⁶ , Mohammed Al-Khawalde⁷ , Boussad Chaib⁸ and Colin Hopper⁹

¹  Honorary Lecturer, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Eastman Dental Institute & University College London Hospitals, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8LD, UK

²  Specialist Registrar, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University College London Hospitals, London, UK

³  Specialist Registrar, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University College London Hospitals, London, UK

⁴  Specialist in Surgical Dentistry, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Eastman Dental Institute for Oral Healthcare Sciences, London, UK

⁵  Specialist Registrar, Head & Neck Surgery Unit, University College London Hospitals, London, UK

⁶  Specialist Registrar, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University College London Hospitals, London, UK

⁷  Specialist, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Royal Medical Services, Amman, Jordan

⁸  Reasearcher, Royal Free & University College Medical School, London, UK

⁹  Head Of Academic Surgical Unit, Senior Lecturer/Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, Eastman Dental Institute & University College London Hospitals, London, UK

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Head & Face Medicine 2006, 2:14doi:10.1186/1746-160X-2-14

Published:	25 May 2006

Abstract

Objectives

The records of 1087 patients who underwent surgical removal of third molar teeth were prospectively examined to analyse the possible relationship between postoperative complications and the surgeon's experience parameter.

Method and materials

Seven surgeons (three specialists in surgical dentistry [specialists SD] and four oral and maxillofacial Senior House Officers [OMFS residents]) carried out the surgical procedures. For each patient, several variables were recorded including age, gender, radiographic position of extracted teeth, treating surgeon, duration of surgery and postoperative complications.

Results

Analysis of the data revealed some differences in the incidence of complications produced by the specialists SD and OMFS residents. The main statistically relevant differences were increase the incidences of trismus, nerve paraesthesia, alveolar osteitis and infection in the resident-treated group, while the specialist-treated group showed higher rates of post-operative bleeding.

Conclusion

The higher rate of postoperative complications in the resident-treated group suggests that at least some of the complications might be related to surgical experience.

Further work needs to compare specialists of training programmes with different years of experience, using large cross – sectional studies.