Treatment of delayed-onset infections after impacted lower third molar extraction

Purpose: To describe the treatment of delayed-onset infections after lower third molar removal. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was made of 33 delayed-onset infections after impacted lower third molar extraction diagnosed between 2001 and 2005 in the Oral Surgery and Implantology Department of the School of Dentistry of the University of Barcelona, Spain. Results: Antibiotic treatment was effective in 22 patients, whereas the remaining 11 needed an additional surgical procedure to resolve this postoperative complication. Patients with prolonged use of antibiotics after the onset of the infection were more likely to require surgical intervention. Conclusions: Patients with delayed-onset infections should be treated initially with antibiotics for 7 days. If the infection does not respond favorably within that time, surgical debridement of the extraction site should be done. (c) 2008 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.