Impacted Teeth
Gregory M. Ness, DDS
Larry J. Peterson, DDS, MS†

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Removal of impacted teeth is one of the most common surgical procedures performed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and most surgeons cite third molar removal as the operation most likely to humble them. Extensive training, skill, and experience are necessary to perform this procedure with minimal trauma. When the surgeon is untrained and/or inexperienced, the incidence of complications rises significantly.

Determining the need for removal of asymptomatic teeth is no less problematic. In many situations this decision is made based on clinical experience and professional judgment; in others the decision is clear cut based on available scientific data. Contemporary medical and dental practices demand evidence based decision-making, and the surgeon is called on more and more frequently to justify surgical procedures, including the removal of third molars.

This chapter reviews and discusses the indications and contraindications for the removal of impacted teeth, the classification of impacted teeth and the determination of the degree of difficulty of surgery, the parameters of perioperative patient care, and the likely complications and their management following third molar surgery.

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