Experience of wrong-site tooth extraction among Nigerian dentists

AbstractObjectiveTo report the experience of wrong-site tooth extraction among Nigerian dentists.Study designA self-administered questionnaire was distributed among a cross-section of Nigerian dentists. Information requested included personal experience on wrong-site tooth/teeth extraction and its after-effect, possible reasons for wrong-site tooth extraction and documentation of the event in patients’ case. Respondents were also asked if they were aware of any colleagues who had previously experienced wrong-site tooth extraction and possible legal implication of the event, and if they aware of the universal protocol for preventing wrong site, wrong procedure, and wrong person surgery.ResultsTwenty-two (13%) of the respondents reported having extracted a wrong tooth. The event occurred within 5years after graduation in most cases. Most respondents (53.6%) informed the patient immediately after the event. Only 68% of the respondents documented the event in patient’s case record. Most common reasons for wrong-site tooth extraction were heavy workload, presence of multiple condemned teeth and miscommunication between dentists. Fifty-five percent of respondents were aware of a colleague who had extracted a wrong tooth. The most probable legal implication of wrong-site tooth extraction according to the respondents was litigation by the patient. Only 25% of dentists were aware of a universal protocol for preventing wrong-site surgery.ConclusionsWrong tooth/teeth extraction is not an uncommon event in the studied environment. The need to be familiar with universal protocol on wrong-site surgery and its legal implications are highlighted

Oral health-related quality of life following non-surgical (routine) tooth extraction: A pilot study

Aim: The study was designed to explore the changes in oral health-related quality of life (QoL) in the immediate postoperative period following routine (non-surgical) dental extraction. Setting and Design: A prospective study carried out at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Subjects attending who required non-surgical removal of one or two teeth under local anesthesia were included in the study. A baseline QoL questionnaire (oral health impact profile-14 [OHIP-14]) was filled by each patient just before surgery, and only those who were considered to have their QoL "not affected" (total score 14 or less) were included in the study. After the extraction, each subject was given a modified form of "health related QoL" [OHIP-14]-instrument to be completed by the 3 rd day-after surgery, and were given the opportunity to review the questionnaire on the 7 th day postoperative review. Results: Total OHIP-14 scores ranged between 14 and 48 (mean ± SD, 26.2 ± 8.3). Majority of the subjects (60%) reported, "a little affected." Only few subjects (5.8%) reported, "not at all affected," and about 32% reported, "quite a lot." Summation of OHIP-14 scores revealed that QoL was "affected" in 41 subjects (34.2%) and "not affected" in 79 subjects (65.8%). More than 30% of subjects reported that their ability to chew, ability to open the mouth and enjoyment of food were affected following tooth extraction. Few subjects (14-34%) reported deterioration in their speech and less than 20% of subjects reported that change in their appearance was "affected." Only few subjects (12.5-15.1%) reported sleep and duty impairment. Thirty-percent of subjects reported their inability to keep social activities, and 41% were not able to continue with their favorite sports and hobbies. Multiple regression analysis revealed no significant association between age, sex, indications for extraction, duration of extraction, intra-operative complications, and deterioration in QoL ( P < 0.05). Consumption of analgesics beyond postoperative day 1 (POD1) was more common in subjects with socket healing complications than those without ( P = 0.000). About 33% of subjects reported, "inability to work" (1-3 days). Conclusion: About a third of subjects experienced significant deterioration in QoL. The most affected domains were eating/diet variation and speech variation. Therefore, patients should be informed of possible deterioration in their QoL following non-surgical tooth extraction