Indications for and anticipated difficulty of third molar surgery: a comparison between a dental hospital and a specialist high street practice.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the indications for and anticipated difficulty of third molar surgery between two different referral settings.


METHODS
A prospective study involving completion of a proforma pre- and post-operatively.


METHODS
A dental teaching hospital and a specialist surgical dentistry practice in 2003.


METHODS
Patients referred for the assessment of their third molars were recruited. Details of the clinical and radiographical assessment for each patient were recorded pre-operatively and the extent of surgery required post-operatively.


RESULTS
The main indication for referral for third molar extraction was pericoronitis in both centres. A larger number of patients were assessed and treated in a shorter period of time at the surgical dentist compared with the dental hospital. The surgical dentist was accurate in his assessment of the difficulty of surgery 96% of the time compared with 66% for the dental hospital staff.


CONCLUSIONS
This study highlights the benefits for patients in being treated by a surgical dentist. As dental students require exposure to surgical dentistry in order to attain a level of competence, a reduction in the number of patients being referred to dental hospitals may impact upon students' ability to both assess and perform surgical procedures. This may mean that undergraduates will be less able to fulfil the recommendations of the General Dental Council. An outreach programme for final year dental students to surgical dentistry practices would benefit all concerned.
Macluskey
M
M
University of Dundee Dental Hospital and School, Park Place, Dundee. m.macluskey@dundee.ac.uk
Slevin
M
M
Curran
M
M
Nesbitt
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013515:Surgery, Oral