Mandibular fracture after third molar removal: a case report.

Surgical removal of third molars is associated with complications that can be as common as pain and trismus and as rare as mandibular fracture. A fracture can occur when the resistance of the bone tissue is lower than the forces applied by the surgeon during the procedure. The aim of this article is to report a case of jaw fracture after tooth extraction and subsequent surgical treatment of the fracture under general anesthesia with an option for a submandibular approach. A plate and screw system with a 2.4-mm profile was used for osteosynthesis after reduction of the fracture. The patient was followed up for 6 months after surgery and reported no functional or esthetic complaints. Treatment of mandibular fractures should aim to reestablish functional occlusion and mandibular continuity with the least possible risk of adverse sequelae. Planning for each individual case of third molar extraction requires accurate clinical examination and image evaluation to lessen the risk of fracture.