Perceived risk of future pathology associated with pathology-free third molars: a comparison of oral and maxillofacial surgeons and family dentists.
OBJECTIVE
To examine and compare practitioners' judgements of risk of future pathology associated with pathology-free disease asymptomatic third molars.


METHODS
10 oral and maxillofacial surgeons and 18 family dentists (90% male) with experience ranging from 5-28 years.


METHODS
Participants were presented with periapical radiographs of 36 asymptomatic, disease-free mandibular third molars and were informed of the age and sex of the patients and the degree of eruption of the third molars. Participants were asked to assess likelihood of future pathology in general, and more specifically, likelihood of root resorption, pericoronitis, periodontitis, cystic change and neoplasia if the third molar was left in situ.


RESULTS
There was significant variation between the 28 raters but not between the two groups. Excepting assessment of future cystic change, there was no evidence that oral and maxillofacial surgeons and family dentists rated the 36 cases in consistently different ways.


CONCLUSIONS
Practitioners varied very considerably in their judgment of the risks of pathology associated with asymptomatic disease-free third molars. Specialisation, did not account for this variation.
Kostopoulou
O
O
Department of Oral Surgery, Medicine and Pathology, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK.
Brickley
M R
MR
Shepherd
J P
JP
Newcombe
R G
RG
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015588:Observer Variation; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D013515:Surgery, Oral / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014852:Wales