A monitoring and evaluation study of third molar surgery complications at a major medical center.

This monitoring and evaluation study of third molar surgery complications took place over a 6-month period of time. The goal of the study was to determine complication rates following third molar extraction. A comparison was made between the staff's and residents' post-operative complication rates and patients receiving tetracycline powder in the extraction sockets vs. no antibiotics. Complication rates were compared in males vs. females, and in four different age groups. The study helped improve patient care by showing that alveolar osteitis rates decreased when all patients received topical tetracycline. It also confirmed that the experience of the surgeon, patient age, and gender influence complication rates.