Evaluation Of Postoperative Facial Swelling Following The Surgical Removal Of Impacted Third Molars Using The Tape Measuring Technique.

Abstract

Context: The complications associated with the removal of impacted third molars should not be underestimated. The surgery entails incision, stripping of periosteum, bone and tooth removal, and suturing. Swelling is almost universal after this procedure which, affect patients daily life activities. Objectives: To assess the use of tape measuring technique in the clinical evaluation of facial swelling following lower third molar surgery. Patients and Methods: Clinical evaluation of facial swelling after the surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars using a tape measuring technique was carried out among 50 patients of both genders at the oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital and Ntasiobi Specialist Hospital both in Enugu. Postoperative facial swelling was evaluated at 24 hours, 72 hours and five days. The measurements obtained were recorded and converted to relative values, which provided numerical data for comparative analysis Results: The result of our study shows that swelling usually reaches its maximum within 48 – 72 hours after surgery and begins to subside from the day after. We equally observed that there was an increase in the duration of surgical procedure in different molar positions with corresponding increase in amount of facial swelling. Conclusion: Patients are hampered by the level of physical discomfort within 2 – 3 days after surgery, which include perception of their appearance and oral function. Treatment for minimizing this postoperative sequalae should commence immediately after surgery to achieve desired and maximum effect. The tape measuring method is simple, non-invasive, cost effective and time-saving method, which provides numerical data for determination of facial contour changes.

Keywords: Third molar surgery, Swelling, Clinical evaluation, Tape measuring Technique