The incidence of complications associated with the removal of impacted third molars in a group of 500 patients treated by oral surgery faculty were compared with the incidence of complications in 208 patients treated during the same period by residents of oral and maxillofacial surgery. The results show that complications were more numerous after the removal of third molars classified as partial bony or complete bony impactions, and that less-experienced surgeons had a significantly higher incidence of such complications.