Effectiveness of Laboratory Tests in Predicting Treatment Outcomes and Complications in Dental Surgery: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Laboratory tests may help identify patients at increased risk of bleeding, infection, delayed healing, and other complications following dental surgery, but their routine use remains controversial.
Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of laboratory tests in predicting treatment outcomes and complications following dental surgical procedures.
Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, Wiley Online Library, and Google Scholar. Studies evaluating the association between laboratory parameters and outcomes of dental or oral surgical procedures were included. Data on hematological, coagulation, biochemical, and inflammatory tests and their association with postoperative complications and treatment outcomes were extracted and analyzed.
Results: The review found that laboratory testing has greater predictive value in patients with systemic disease or increased surgical risk than in healthy patients undergoing minor procedures. In a systematic review of preoperative testing in oral and maxillofacial surgery, 150 publications were initially identified and 51 were included. Routine blood counts, coagulation tests, and biochemical investigations showed limited predictive value in low-risk patients, whereas platelet and coagulation parameters were more useful for assessing bleeding risk in selected patients. A dental-specific review of thrombocytopenic patients identified 1,633 records and included 20 studies involving 983 cases.
Conclusion: Laboratory tests can assist in predicting complications and guiding dental surgical management, particularly in patients with relevant systemic or hematological abnormalities. Selective, risk-based testing appears more appropriate than routine laboratory screening in healthy patients.