Oral Surgery & Extractions Flashcards

What splint duration is recommended following lateral luxation of a permanent incisor?

Answer: 4 weeks with a semi-rigid splint

IADT guidelines recommend a semi-rigid splint for 4 weeks following lateral luxation to allow PDL healing while preventing ankylosis from rigid immobilisation.

When should a post-extraction review be arranged for a straightforward lower molar extraction in a healthy adult?

Answer: Only if the patient is symptomatic or at high risk

Routine post-extraction review is not always required for uncomplicated extractions in healthy patients; review should be arranged if the patient is symptomatic or has risk factors.

What is the recommended approach if inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury is detected post-operatively after third molar surgery?

Answer: Document findings, reassure patient, review at 3 months, refer to oral surgery if no recovery

IAN injuries should be documented thoroughly, the patient reassured (most recover within weeks), reviewed at 3 months, and referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon if there is no improvement.

Which flap design is most commonly used for surgical removal of a lower third molar?

Answer: Ward's (envelope) incision with a distal relieving incision

The most common approach involves a Ward's envelope incision along the external oblique ridge with a mesial relieving incision, providing adequate access while avoiding key anatomical structures.

What is the clinical significance of a displaced root fragment into the maxillary sinus during upper molar extraction?

Answer: Requires urgent referral to oral and maxillofacial surgery for removal

A root displaced into the maxillary sinus can cause acute or chronic sinusitis and must be removed by an oral surgeon with appropriate sinus access under specialist care.

Which antibiotic is the drug of first choice for acute dentoalveolar abscess in a penicillin-allergic patient in the UK?

Answer: Metronidazole

Metronidazole is effective against the anaerobic bacteria responsible for dentoalveolar abscesses and is the recommended first-line alternative in penicillin-allergic patients.