An Audit of Mandibular Third Molar Surgery

Abstract

Background: The objective of this audit was to identify areas where there could be improvement in patient management as well as evaluating our methods of treatment and effective utilisation of resources. Methods: A retrospective study of mandibular third surgery at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City in one year. Results: A total of 149 impacted mandibular third molars were surgically removed from 133 patients. There were 70 (47%) males and 79 (53%) females with an age range of 18 - 78 years. The commonest type of impaction was mesioangular 95 (63.8%). The commonest indication for surgery was pericoronitis 48 (32.2%). One hundred and twenty five (94%) of patients had local anaesthesia while 8 (6%) had local anaesthesia/intravenous. Four (2.7%) patients had paraesthesia of the lower lip as a result of inferior alveolar nerve damage while one (0.7%) had lingual nerve paraesthesia. No proper record keeping of procedures was observed in all the cases analysed. Conclusion: This study has identified poor record keeping and non-adherence to standard protocol by residents in patient management. (Nig J Surg Res 2001; 3 : 66 – 74) KEY WORDS: Audit, Mandibular, Third Molar, Surgery