Third molar surgery and antibiotic use

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This review of antibiotic prophylactic treatments in relation to the risk of developing dry socket (DS) and site-specific infection (SSI) after lower third molar extraction included 16 RCTs. Antibiotic did reduce the risk of DS and SSI in health patients but the number needed to treat (NNT) was high so the use should be considered only after a careful assessment of an individual patient’s risk.

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Tooth extraction: Do antibiotics prevent complications?

The authors sought to review available literature relating to SSRI withdrawal syndromes

This Cochrane review update of the effect of systemic antibiotic prophylaxis on the prevention of infectious complications following tooth extractions included 23 studies. There was very-low certainty evidence that prophylactic antibiotics may reduce the risk of infection and dry socket following third molar extraction compared to placebo.

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Mandibular angle fractures: 1 or 2 miniplates?

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This review of the use of 1 or 2 miniplates for the treatment of mandibular angle fractures included 13 studies 3 of which were RCTs. The findings suggest fewer complications with single miniplate fixation.

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Mandibular condylar fractures: is surgical or non-surgical approach best?

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Review of 36 studies at high risk of bias suggests that surgical treatment of mandibular condylar fractures provides a better clinical outcome for post-treatment malocclusion, protrusion, laterotrusion, and lateral deviation during maximal incisal opening in comparison to non-surgical treatment. But more patients affected by post-treatment infection.

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Nerve repositioning for implant placement: neurosensory complications common

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This review of complications following inferior alveolar nerve repositioning techniques included 24 studies the majority at high risk of bias. Initial sensory disturbance was highest with lateralisation technique but lower at end of follow up periods than transposition approach.

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Mandibular fractures: review finds no difference in postoperative complications between locking and non-locking plates

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Today we look at a review that was comparing the clinical outcomes between locking and non-locking plates for the fixation of fractures mandibles. The review identified 10 studies, 8 of which were at high risk of bias. They found that there was no difference in the level of post operative complications between teh different approaches.

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Review suggests lower complication rates with 3D miniplate fixation of mandibular angle fractures compared with standard miniplates

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Mandibular fractures are relatively common and about 12-40% involve the mandibular angle. The use of three-dimensional (3D) strut plates is increasingly being suggested as an alternative to conventional miniplates. The aim of this review was to assess whether there was a difference in clinical outcomes between standard and 3D miniplates in the management of mandibular [read the full story…]

Little good quality evidence on whether to leave or remove impacted third molars involved in fractures of the angle of the mandible

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Fracture of the mandible often occurs through the angle where it may be closely related to, or involve an impacted third molar. There is a debate about whether they should always be extracted or retained.  The aim of this review was to measure the occurrence of postoperative infection following mandibular fixation performed in the presence [read the full story…]

Study suggests that pre-operative antibiotics have positive impact on operative morbidity in dental implant surgery

Cross section of a dental implant

Earlier this month  (Dental Elf 13th Feb 2013) we reported on a study looking at whether systemic antibiotics were necessary for the placement of dental implants.  That study suggested that antibiotics were not necessary for the placement of single implants.  Today we look at another study that looked at the influence of pre-operative antibiotics on [read the full story…]

Study suggests that systemic antibiotics are not necessary for single dental implant placement

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The use of systemic antibiotics during dental implant placement has been controversial, with some authors claiming higher survival rates with peri-operative antibiotic use.  The aim of this multi-centre trial was to assess the effect of various systemic antibiotic prophylaxis regimes on patient- reported outcomes and postsurgical complications in patients undergoing conventional implant placement. Following establishment [read the full story…]