ABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate oral health-related quality of life [OHRQOL] changes following third molar surgery, and investigate demographic and clinical variables' effect on [OHRQOL] in the first postoperative week. 45 subjects had surgical removal of lower third molar/s by one surgeonat Jordan University hospital from March 2011 to November 2011, following a standardized protocol. Patients' demographics and clinical data were recorded. [OHRQOL] was evaluated before surgery using the Oral Health Impact Profile [OHIP]-14. On postoperative days [PD] 1, 3, 5 and 7, patients completed the [OHIP]-14 and the condition-specific [HRQOL] instrument. A significant deterioration in OHRQOL was seen on [PD]1[P=0.000], and [PD]3 [P=0.000], except for psychological discomfort and disability domains. On [PD]5, no difference was found, however, females had significantly lower OHRQOL levels than males on [OHIP]-14 [P=0.008] and the domains: physical [P=0.048], psychological [P=0.016] and social disability[P=0.018]. Third molar surgery was associated with deterioration in patients' OHRQOL on the first three postoperative days. Females had a slower recovery, with no effect of other factors on patients' recovery pattern