Mandibular third molars: oral surgeons' assessment of the indications for removal

Clinician-related factors behind the decision to extract an asymptomatic lower third molar. A cross-sectional study based on Spanish and Portuguese dentists

BACKGROUND

Scientific literature estimates that around 18 to 40 % of asymptomatic third molars are extracted. The aims of the present study were to determine the indications for extraction of asymptomatic lower third molars in a sample of Spanish and Portuguese dentists, and to relate these indications to the clinicians' training and professional experience.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A survey consisting of 15 cases of asymptomatic lower third molars was emailed to Portuguese and Spanish dentists. The clinicians were asked to assess the level of difficulty of the extractions and to make a reasoned recommendation based on the panoramic radiographs, gender and age of the patients.

RESULTS

381 clinicians filled in the questionnaires. Most of the professionals had over 13 years of clinical experience. The number of Spanish clinicians with postgraduate degrees in Oral Surgery was significantly higher. On average, 42% of respondents recommended extraction of asymptomatic third molars. The indication for extraction was significantly higher among Portuguese dentists. Clinical experience was negatively correlated with the perceived extraction difficulty (p<0.05). The main reason given for extracting was the prevention of pericoronitis, whereas that for not extracting was the absence of a clear indication and the risk of injuring the inferior alveolar nerve.

CONCLUSIONS

The Portuguese dentists were more in favour of removing asymptomatic lower third molars than the Spanish dentists, although the latter had a higher proportion of professionals with postgraduate studies in Oral Surgery.

Impacted Mandibular Third Molars: A Retrospective Study of 1198 Cases to Assess Indications for Surgical Removal, and Correlation with Age, Sex and Type of Impaction-A Single Institutional Experience

AIM

To study the incidence of mandibular third molar impaction in relation to type and side of impaction, age and sex of patients and indications for its surgical removal through data collected from a single institute over a period of 3 and half years.

METHODS

The records of 1198 patients who underwent the surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars were reviewed retrospectively. Records were divided into groups according to sex, age, type and side of impaction. Radiographs were studied to determine angular position of impacted mandible third molar.

RESULTS

We found that there was a high incidence of mesioangular lower third molar impaction (33.97 %), highest number of patients were found in 15-30 years of age group (48.33 %), a left side (56.93 %) was more commonly involved, female predominance (63.44 %) was observed and recurrent pericoronitis (33.81 %) was the most common indication.

CONCLUSION

Awareness of the indications for surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar to the patients will help to avoid future risk of complications and morbidity associated with the same. This will not only help in saving time and money but also prevents the psychological trauma associated with delayed treatment. Removal of only symptomatic IMTM seems to be the logical choice in view of financial constraint in developing countries like India but at the same time early removal offers freedom from future complications in selected cases. So surgeons should apply a meticulous approach in selecting the patients for SRIMTM.

Decision making in third molar surgery: a survey of Brazilian oral and maxillofacial surgeons

This study was designed to evaluate the variations in decision making among Brazilian oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMFS) and trainees in relation to third molar surgery. A survey on 18 diverse clinical situations related to the assessment and treatment of the third molar surgeries was conducted during the 20th Brazilian National OMFS meeting. Participants were divided into three groups according to their level of training. Another variable studied was length of experience. Correlation between the question answers and the variables was analysed using the chi-square test and the f test. The mean age of participants was 32.68 years, and their mean length of experience was 5.24 years. There were no statistical differences between the level of training and number of years of experience and the responses to 15 of the 18 questions on clinical situations. However, differences were found in responses to prophylactic extraction of asymptomatic third molars, use of non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) during the preoperative surgical period and the use of additional imaging to plan extractions. The group with shorter time of experience (3.8 ± 3.94 years) tended to recommend extractions of asymptomatic third molars more frequently compared with the more experienced surgeons (P = 0.041). More experienced surgeons used NSAIDs in the preoperative surgical period, whereas the majority of the youngest surgeons (4.1 ± 5.96 years of experience) did not (P = 0.0042). The certificated trained and in practice group tended to treat deep lower third molar impactions based on the findings of a panoramic radiograph, without obtaining additional imaging [cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)] before treatment (P = 0.0132). Decision making regarding third molar treatment differs according to the level of training and is influenced by the number of years of experience. Therefore, further continuous education programmes in this area are warranted to make recommendations regarding third molars consistent with the current literature.

Retained Third Molars Removal in a Severely Resorbed Edentulous Mandible. A Case Report

The presence of asymptomatic third molars can represent a potential problem in the mandible when these teeth are retained and the patient has lost all normally erupted teeth. Once the mandibular first and second molars are removed, the mandibular body becomes weaker with time, increasing the complexity, morbidity and incidence of complication in the surgical procedure to remove the retained third molar. This paper reports a case where the mandibular third molars retained in a severely resorbed mandible were removed in a 54-year-old female patient. The treatment plan was based on the safe surgical removal of the teeth and prosthetic rehabilitation with an implant-supported milled bar overdenture and a bone-mucous-supported complete denture in the mandibular and maxillary arch, respectively. If the removal of a retained third molar is indicated in a severely resorbed edentulous mandible, the treatment plan must involve not only preventive measures in order to avoid mandible fracture during or after tooth removal, but also alternatives that allow an adequate mandibular rehabilitation.

Hospitalisation for the surgical removal of impacted teeth: Has Australia followed international trends?

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to undertake a six-year analysis from 1999/00 to 2004/05, of the demographic characteristics of hospitalisations for the surgical removal of impacted teeth in Western Australia under general anaesthesia.

METHOD

Data for the current analysis was obtained from the Western Australian Hospital Morbidity Data System (HMDS). Gender, age, indigenous status, place of residence, type of hospital admitted, insurance status, and Diagnostic Related Group (DRG) cost estimates for the procedure were analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 37.6% of all oral health-related hospitalisations in Western Australia over the six years were for the removal of impacted teeth. Admitted patients were predominantly females (58.8%) and very few Indigenous people were hospitalised (0.2%). The average age of patients was 21.4 years (sd=9.9). Metropolitan patients were hospitalised 1.5 times more than rural patients for this condition. The majority of patients were hospitalised at a private metropolitan hospital and were insured. The total cost of hospitalisation for this condition contributes to 27% of all the oral health condition-related hospitalisation costs.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the hospital-based removal of impacted teeth in Western Australia is associated with factors such as indigenous status, age, gender and private hospital access along with insurance status raising interesting questions over the equity of provision of this service.

Opinions of American and Swedish orthodontists about the role of erupting third molars as a cause of dental crowding

OBJECTIVE

To compare the opinions of Swedish orthodontists and American orthodontists regarding the association between third molar eruption and dental crowding.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A survey was distributed to Swedish orthodontists (n = 230) asking their views on the force exerted by erupting third molars, its relationship to crowding, and their recommendations for prophylactic removal. Results were compared with those from a similar study conducted in the United States. Chi square analysis was used to determine differences in responses to questions between Swedish and American orthodontists. P < or = .05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Both Swedish and American orthodontists believed that lower third molars were more likely than upper third molars to cause force (65% and 58% for Swedish and American orthodontists, respectively) and crowding (42% and 40%, respectively). No statistically significant differences were seen between the answers of American and Swedish orthodontists regarding the role of upper and lower third molars in causing crowding. Although only 18% of Swedish orthodontists "generally" or "sometimes" recommended prophylactic removal of mandibular third molars, 36% of American orthodontists "generally" or "sometimes" recommended removal (P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Most orthodontists in the United States and Sweden do believe that erupting lower third molars exert an anterior force; however, they also believe that these teeth "rarely" or "never" cause crowding of the dentition. The reason that more American orthodontists recommend prophylactic removal of mandibular third molars remains unexplained.

Indications for removal of impacted mandibular third molars: a single institutional experience in Libya

AIMS

To investigate the various indications for the removal of impacted lower third molars in a dental school in Libya.

METHODS

The records of all patients who underwent a surgical removal of a lower third molar over a 3 year period were reviewed retrospectively. The indications for removal were classified into 10 groups. Radiographs were also studied to determine angular position as well as pathologies associated with such teeth. Age, gender and chief complaint of all patients were recorded.

RESULTS

The results were based on the data of 439 patients who had their third molars removed (Male-183; Female-256). 61% of patients were in the age groups 15-24. Recurrent pericoronitis was found to be the most common indication recorded (54%), followed by pulpitis/caries of the 3rd/2nd molar (31%). Orthodontic reasons (2%) and cysts/tumours (5%) were among the other indications recorded. Pain and tenderness was recorded as the most common symptom. The relative absence of prophylactic removal as an indication could be attributed to socioeconomic and logistic reasons.

CONCLUSION

Awareness of the indications for removal of impacted lower third molars will help in management of such patients. A fear of dentistry appears to be responsible for patients reporting to the dental surgeon only when symptoms occur. Patients generally do not agree to prophylactic removal of lower third molars. Removal of only symptomatic lower third molars seems to be the logical choice in view of financial and manpower constraints in developing nations.

How confident are general dental practitioners in their decision to administer antibiotic prophylaxis? A questionnaire study

Background

Common dental procedures induce bacteremia. To prevent infectious complications from bacteremia in patients with specific medical conditions, antibiotic prophylaxis is considered. Recommendations are often unclear and ambiguous. In a previous study we reported wide variations in general dental practitioners' (GDPs') administrations of antibiotic prophylaxis. We hypothesized that within such a conflicting clinical area, decisions are made with a high level of personal uncertainty. This study examined GDPs' confidence in their decisions and analyzed the extent to which case-related factors might explain individual variations in confidence.

Methods

Postal questionnaires in combination with telephone interviews were used. The response rate was 51% (101/200). There were no significant differences between respondents and non-respondents regarding sex, age, or place of work. The GDPs were presented to patient cases of different medical conditions, where some should receive antibiotic prophylaxis according to recommendations when performing dental procedures that could cause gingival bleeding. The GDPs assessed on visual analogue scales how confident they were in their decisions. The extent to which case-related factors, medical condition and dental procedure, could explain individual variation in confidence was analyzed.

Results

Overall the GDPs exhibited high confidence in their decisions regardless of whether they administered antibiotic prophylaxis or not, or whether their decisions were in accordance with recommendations or not. The case-related factors could explain between 30–100% of the individual variation in GDPs' confidence. For 46%, the medical condition significantly explained the individual variation in confidence. However, for most of these GDPs, lower confidence was not presented for conditions where recommendations are unclear and higher confidence was not presented for conditions where recommendations are more clear. For 8% the dental procedure significantly explained the variation, although all procedures could cause bacteremia. For 46% neither the medical condition nor the dental procedure could significantly explain the individual variation in confidence.

Conclusion

The GDPs presented high confidence in their decisions, and the majority of GDPs did not present what could be considered a justified varied level of confidence according to the clarity of recommendations. Clinicians who are overconfident in their decisions may be less susceptible to modifications of their behavior to more evidence-based strategies.

Factors influencing the prophylactic removal of asymptomatic impacted lower third molars

The aim of this study was to analyse factors indicating prophylactic removal of impacted lower third molars, and how they, and possibly surgeon experience, influence the therapeutic decision-making process. A descriptive observational study was made of 40 asymptomatic impacted lower third molars. Orthopantomographs were scanned and presented to four professionals with different degrees of surgical experience. The examiners received information relating to patient age and sex, molar inclination and degree of impaction, and expressed their opinion on the necessity for teeth removal. There was a statistically significant relationship between examiner decision and the estimated probability of pathology if the molars were not removed (P<0.05). The degree of influence on the decision to extract was in decreasing order: estimated risk of complications, inclination of molar, age, degree of impaction and patient sex. No statistically significant differences (P>0.05) were observed between residents and trainers in terms of the decision to remove or estimated risk of complications. The management approach adopted by oral surgeons regarding the removal of asymptomatic impacted lower third molars depends upon the perceived risk of complications if such teeth are not removed, other factors being secondary. The surgical experience of the professional does not seem to influence treatment decision.

Decision making of Israeli, East European, and South American dental school graduates in third molar surgery: is there a difference?

PURPOSE

This study was designed to evaluate decision making among Israeli, Eastern European, and South American dental school graduates in oral surgery issues.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

During a military dental convention, a survey was conducted among 85 dentists that included a questionnaire and a panoramic image presentation.

RESULTS

Removal of the mandibular third molar was recommended more often by the Israeli graduates, Eastern European dentists recommended less maxillary antagonist extraction, and South American graduates had the lowest rate of recommendation for extraction of a partially impacted mesioangular and distoangular mandibular third molar in a 19-year-old patient, and of a fully impacted horizontal mandibular third molar in 19- and 35-year-old patients. In all groups, more dentists recommended extraction of disease-free third molars in 35-year-old than in 19-year-old patients.

CONCLUSION

According to study results, decision making regarding third molar treatment is not evidence-based and is not rational. Further postgraduate education in this area is warranted.

Influence of lower third molar position on the incidence of preoperative complications

OBJECTIVE

The present study sought to relate the clinical outcome of mandibular third molar impaction surgery to the orthopanoramic radiographically determined position of the affected teeth based on the classifications of Pell and Gregory, and Winter.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective study was made of 165 patients undergoing the surgical extraction of lower third molars at School of Dentistry of the University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. The positions of the 259 extracted third molars were documented according to the classifications of Pell and Gregory, and Winter, together with the type of mucosal and bony coverage involved. These tooth position parameters were radiologically assessed using Radio Memory software and were retrospectively correlated to the observed infectious, noninfectious, and neurological postsurgical outcomes.

RESULTS

A statistically significant relationship (P < .05) was recorded between the appearance of infectious complications and the position parameters "Pell and Gregory classification," "mucosal coverage," and "bony coverage." A statistically significant relationship (P < .05) was observed between the appearance of noninfectious problems and the parameter "Winter classification." Finally, a significant association (P < .05) was recorded between the position variables and the existence of unwanted neurological changes.

CONCLUSIONS

The mandibular position of the impacted third molar may be able to be correlated to the development of complications resulting from impaction removal. Vertical third molars in positions IIA and IIB of the Pell and Gregory classification, with partial mucosal and bony coverage, are the most susceptible to undesired outcomes.

Do pathologies associated with impacted lower third molars justify prophylactic removal? A critical review of the literature

Surgical removal of impacted lower third molars is widely carried out in general dental practice and in many institutional clinics. Despite the fact that there are well established indications for the removal of impacted lower third molars, prophylactic removal of these teeth is still being universally practiced. Some reports have estimated that the proportion of impacted third molars that are removed when no clinically sound justification for surgery is present is between 18% and 50.7%. Justifications for prophylactic surgery include the need to minimize the risk of disease (cysts and tumors) development, reduction of the risk of mandibular angle fracture, increased difficulty of surgery with age, and that third molars have no definite role in the mouth. This article critically examines the literature regarding the relationship between impacted lower wisdom teeth, cysts and tumor development, and mandibular fractures.

Risk Indicators for Tooth Loss Due to Periodontal Disease

BACKGROUND

Several risk indicators for periodontal disease severity have been identified. The association of these factors with tooth loss for periodontal reasons was investigated in this cross-sectional comparative study.

METHODS

All extractions performed in 21 general dental practice clinics (25% of such clinics in Kuwait) over a 30-day period were recorded. Documented information included patient age and gender, medical history findings, dental maintenance history, toothbrushing frequency, types and numbers of extracted teeth, and the reason for the extraction. Reasons were divided into periodontal disease versus other reasons in univariate and binary logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 1,775 patients had 3,694 teeth extracted. More teeth per patient were lost due to periodontal disease than for other reasons (2.8 +/- 0.2 versus 1.8 +/- 0.1; P <0.001). Factors significantly associated with tooth loss due to periodontal reasons in logistic regression analysis were age >35 years (odds ratio [OR] 3.45; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.79 to 4.26), male gender (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.17 to 1.73), never having periodontal maintenance (OR 1.48; 95% CI 1.23 to 1.78), never using a toothbrush (OR 1.81; 95% CI 1.49 to 2.20), current or past smoking (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.28 to 1.91), anterior tooth type (OR 3.23; 95% CI 2.57 to 4.05), and the presence of either of the following medical conditions: diabetes mellitus (OR 2.64; 95% CI 2.19 to 3.18), hypertension (OR 1.73; 95% CI 1.41 to 2.13), or rheumatoid arthritis (OR 4.19; 95% CI 2.17 to 8.11).

CONCLUSION

Tooth loss due to periodontal disease is associated with the risk indicators of age, male gender, smoking, lack of professional maintenance, inadequate oral hygiene, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, and anterior tooth type.

Third molar treatment outcome: a comparison of patients' preferences in Sweden and Wales

AIM

To elucidate and compare patients' outcome preferences for removal and retention of mandibular third molars in Sweden and Wales.

SUBJECTS AND METHOD

The subjects comprised patients referred and scheduled for removal of one or both mandibular third molars in Sweden and Wales. The multi-attribute utility (MAU) methodology was applied to study patients' preferences for outcomes of removal and retention of the mandibular third molar.

RESULTS

Relative weighting of domains was similar in the two countries. "Home and social life" received the highest relative weighting in Sweden and "general health and wellbeing" in Wales. "Your appearance" received the lowest relative weighting in both countries. In both Sweden and Wales operative jaw fracture was considered to be the outcome with most impact, and dentigerous cyst and imbricated incisors the least impact. Outcome ranking was similar in both countries and operative outcomes were considered by patients to be more detrimental to health than retention outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

This comparison showed that patients' preferences in Sweden and Wales were similar and that the outcomes of surgery were considered worse after third molar removal than retention. Patient-orientated treatment decisions were less subject to variation than clinician-orientated decisions.