Post-extraction complications seen at a referral dental clinic in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzanial

Aim: To investigate the types and magnitude of post extraction complications. Setting: A referral hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Subjects: All dental patients who had their teeth extracted at the Muhimbili Medical Centre dental outpatient clinic during the study period (May September 1999). A total of 3,818 extractions were performed under local anaesthetic in 3,732 patients. Method: Oral examination of all patients who reported back with post-extraction problems. Results: The frequency of post extraction complications was low (1.1 per cent), and was mainly due to infected sockets (48.7 per cent), followed by bleeding sockets (41.0 per cent) and retained roots (10.3 per cent). There were eight 'other' complications suffered by 11 patients: necrotising fasciitis (n=1), herpes zoster (n=1), Ludwig's angina (n=1), infections of the submandibular (n=1), parapharyngeal (n=2), masticator (n=2) and submasseteric spaces (n=2), and reaction to local anaesthesia (2ml of 2 per cent lignocaine hydrochloride) (n=1). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that post-extraction complications are few, mostly minor, self-limiting and easily treatable. The study does not support routine antibiotic prophylaxis or special pre-extraction procedures, even in this patient population with poor oral hygiene and high HIV seroprevalence.