Simultaneous surgery of mandibular reduction and impacted mandibular third molar extraction: A retrospective study of 65 cases

A considerable number of patients with prominent mandibular angle have mandibular third molar impaction that needs surgical removal. Mandibular reduction is a popular and effective surgery to correct prominent mandibular angle, but it has been rarely performed simultaneously with impacted third molar extraction. In order to decrease the number of operations and suffering of patients, safely performing these 2 operations together is necessary and important. From January 2016 to June 2018, patients received mandibular reduction and impacted mandibular third molar extraction together were retrospectively reviewed. Forty-seven patients receiving long-curve mandibular reduction (n = 12) or simple mandibular reduction (n = 35) were included in this study. A total of 65 impacted mandibular third molars were extracted during mandibular reduction. One patient had hematoma within facial soft tissue which reabsorbed spontaneously. Seven patients who underwent long-curve mandibular reduction reported transient inferior lip numbness for several weeks. No infection or poor wound healing was reported. No immediate or delayed mandibular fracture occurred. All the patients were satisfied with both the aesthetic result of mandibular reduction and the unnecessity of receiving a secondary surgery to extract the impacted third molar. Simultaneously performing mandibular reduction and impacted mandibular third molar extraction can effectively reduce the number of operations and patients’ suffering. It is also safe with adequate pre-op assessment, professional surgical knowledge, proper use of surgical instruments, meticulous surgical procedures, and correct post-op care.