FREQUENCY OF POST-OPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS IN PATIENTS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPACTED MANDIBULAR THIRD MOLAR REMOVAL

Objectives: To determine the frequency of postoperative complications associated with impacted mandibular third molar removal in patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital (Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar) Material and Methods: A descriptive Cross-sectional study was conducted on 132 patients with post-op complications after third molar removal. Both genders and patients ages 17 to 60 were added. Patients with missing clinical history, radiographs, and fractured mandibles were excluded from the study. Postoperative complications were recorded on a predesigned proforma. Results: Mild pain was found in 49 (37.1%) patients, moderate pain was found in 71 (53.8%) patients, and severe pain was recorded in 12 (9.1%) patients. Dry socket was found in 16 (12.1%) patients. Infection was found in 5 (3.8%) patients. Inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) damage was found in 3 (2.3%) patients and Lingual nerve damage was found in 6 (4.5%) patients. Conclusion: In our study, the postoperative complications of concerns in patients associated with impacted mandibular third molar removal were dry socket in 12.1% of patients, infection in 3.8% of patients, IAN nerve damage in 2.3% of patients, and lingual nerve damage that was found in 4.5% patients. Key Words: Complications, mandible, third molar surgery