Postoperative infection after surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars: An analysis of 110 consecutive procedures

The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of postoperative infection and other complications after the surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. Medical records of 110 consecutive patients with 130 consecutive surgical extractions of impacted lower third molar teeth performed under local anesthetic using strict aseptic techniques were reviewed and analyzed. No systemic antibiotics were administered or prescribed after the surgery. The rates of postoperative infection and other complications were evaluated clinically. Of the 130 surgical removals, 110 in 90 patients met the inclusion criterion of nonuse of antibiotics. Fifty-nine were female and the remaining 31 were male. Average age was 25.2 years. Of the 110 surgeries, postoperative infection occurred in 6 [5.5%]. Other complications were alveolar osteitis [n = 9, 8.2%], pain lasting more than 1 week [n = 5, 4.3%] and sensory dysfunction of the inferior alveolar nerve [n = 2, 0.8%]. The low rates of postoperative infection and other complications observed in this study encouraged us to continue surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars without routine prescription of antibiotics unless indicated for other medical reasons

Kuwaiti parents' knowledge of first-aid measures of avulsion and replantation of teeth

The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge level of emergency measures for tooth avulsion among Kuwaiti parents. Sixty-three parents completed an Arabic language questionnaire about their first-aid knowledge. The following fields of knowledge were assessed: general body injury treatment principles, tooth avulsion and replantation principles, avulsed permanent/primary teeth, cleaning of an avulsed tooth before replantation, extra-alveolar time and storage media. For each category, a score ranging from 0 to 3 was possible. Experience of first-aid information or training was seen in 12 [19%] except for dental injuries, which had not been included in such first-aid information. Knowledge was demonstrated in 52 [82%] about first aid of minor body injuries, yet the knowledge of how to manage avulsed teeth was poor, as 50-54 [79-86%] parents had no knowledge of how to man-age an avulsed tooth in the specific modes of treatment measured. There was no difference in knowledge between mothers and fathers, young or old, nor was knowledge greater in parents with an academic education. First-aid knowledge in Kuwaiti parents is lacking for avulsion and replantation of teeth despite a high level of knowledge of how to manage simple body injuries. Knowledge of first-aid measures regarding avulsion and replantation of teeth should be increased by intervention programs

incidence of lung cancer in the Gulf cooperation council countries

Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world, with an estimated number of 1.3 million new cases as of 2002. This is the first report from the countries that comprise the Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC]. All the primary lung cancer cases registered in the Gulf Center for Cancer Registration during 1998 to 2001 were used to calculate the age-standardized incidence rate [ASR] per 100 000 person-years by the direct standardization method. Overall, there were 1607 [1261 males, 346 females] primary lung cancer cases registered during this period with the male to female ratio of 3.6:1. The highest ASR was in Bahrain [34.3 for males, 12.1 for females] followed by Qatar [18.5 for males, 5.5 for females] and Kuwait [13.8 for males, 4.0 for females]; the lowest rate was in Saudi Arabia [4.8 for males, 1.3 for females]. The mean age at diagnosis for males ranged from 68.7 years in Bahrain to 59.2 years in Oman. For females it ranged from 68.2 years in Bahrain to 58.0 years in Oman. Squamous cell carcinoma in males [except in Qatar] and adenocarcinoma in females were the predominant histological type. Cancer of the lung is one of the common cancers among males in all the GCC countries and ranks second among Bahraini females. Adenocarcinomas were more common in women than men