Third molar treatment outcome: a comparison of patients' preferences in Sweden and Wales.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate and compare patients' outcome preferences for removal and retention of mandibular third molars in Sweden and Wales.


METHODS
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.
Liedholm
R
R
Department of Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden. Rolf.Liedholm@od.mah.se
Knutsson
K
K
Lysell
L
L
Rohlin
M
M
Brickley
M
M
Shepherd
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012606:Scotland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014852:Wales