Post-extraction complications seen at a referral dental clinic in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

Abstract

AIM:

To investigate the types and magnitude of post extraction complications.

SETTING:

A referral hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

SUBJECTS:

All dental patients who had their teeth extracted at the Muhimbili Medical Centre dental outpatient clinic during the study period (May September 1999). A total of 3,818 extractions were performed under local anaesthetic in 3,732 patients.

METHOD:

Oral examination of all patients who reported back with post-extraction problems.

RESULTS:

The frequency of post extraction complications was low (1.1 per cent), and was mainly due to; infected sockets (48.7 per cent), followed by bleeding sockets (41.0 per cent) and retained roots (10.3 per cent). There were eight 'other' complications suffered by 11 patients: necrotising fasciitis (n=l), herpes zoster (n=l), Ludwig's angina (n=l), infections of the submandibular (n=l), parapharyngeal (n=2), masticator (n=2) and submasseteric spaces (n =2), and reaction to local anaesthesia (2ml of 2 per cent lignocaine hydrochloride) (n=1).

CONCLUSION:

The results of this study indicate that post-extraction complications are few, mostly minor, self-limiting and easily treatable. The study does not support routine antibiotic prophylaxis or special pre-extraction procedures, even in this patient population with poor oral hygiene and high HIV seroprevalence.

• Authors: E Simon, M Matee
• Journal: International dental journal (Int Dent J) Vol. 51 Issue 4 Pg. 273-6 (Aug 2001) ISSN: 0020-6539 [Print] England
• PMID: 11570541 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anesthetics, Local
• Lidocaine

Topics

• Abscess (etiology)
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Ambulatory Surgical Procedures
• Anesthesia, Dental
• Anesthetics, Local (adverse effects)
• Child
• Dental Clinics
• Drug Hypersensitivity (etiology)
• Dry Socket (pathology)
• Fasciitis, Necrotizing (etiology)
• Female
• Herpes Zoster (etiology)
• Humans
• Lidocaine (adverse effects)
• Ludwig's Angina (etiology)
• Male
• Masticatory Muscles (microbiology)
• Middle Aged
• Muscular Diseases (microbiology)
• Oral Hemorrhage (etiology)
• Osteomyelitis (etiology)
• Postoperative Complications
• Postoperative Hemorrhage (etiology)
• Referral and Consultation
• Surgical Wound Infection (etiology)
• Tanzania
• Tooth Extraction (adverse effects)
• Tooth Root