Third molar extraction. Current trends.
Extraction of third molars is the operation most frequently performed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. The American National Institute of Health (1979) and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (1993) have organised consensus conferences to systematically analyse the scientific evidence and provide official guidelines for the management of third molars. However, some clinical aspects are still controversial: indications for preventive extraction, early extraction, prognosis of impacted teeth, continuous follow-up, relationship with anterior crowding and temporo-mandibular disorders. This article reviews the conclusions from the consensus conferences and integrates them with more recent data. The actual trend seems to justify a more conservative clinical approach rather than an aggressive extraction policy.
Pasqualini
D
D
Oral Surgery I, Dentistry Department, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, Turin, Italy. dampasq@libero.it
Erniani
F
F
Coscia
D
D
Pomatto
E
E
Mela
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D015975:Consensus Development Conferences, NIH as Topic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D061222:Lingual Nerve Injuries; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery; D014097:Tooth, Unerupted / Q000601:surgery; D061221:Trigeminal Nerve Injuries; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States; D014945:Wound Healing