Planned and unplanned follow-up visits after mandibular third molar surgery in the Public Dental Service in Örebro

Abstract

Objective

This study examined the frequency of unplanned follow-up visits to the Public Dental Service in Örebro due to postoperative discomfort/complications after mandibular third molar surgery and associated factors.

Materials and methods

Data were retrieved from the dental records of 465 patients who underwent mandibular third molar surgery in 2017. The collected data covered patient age and gender, health status, diagnosis, surgeon, and planned and unplanned follow-up visits.

Results

Twenty-eight percent of patients had unplanned visits after mandibular third molar surgery, while 68% of patients without a planned follow-up visit had an unscheduled visit. None of the patients with a planned visit had an unplanned visit. Female patients and patients who had bone removed during surgery had significantly more unplanned follow-up visits due to post-extraction discomfort (p=.047 and .01, respectively). Patients diagnosed with caries made fewer unplanned follow-up visits (p<.012).

Conclusions

The frequency of unplanned follow-up visits after third molar surgery was relatively high, though no patient with a planned follow-up visit made an unplanned visit. Scheduling follow-up visits could significantly reduce the number of unplanned follow-up visits.