title: Influence of NICE guidelines on removal of third molars in a region of the UK.
abstract: We investigated compliance in the West Midlands, UK with the guidelines issued by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) on the indications for the removal of third molars. We audited the practice at three departments of maxillofacial surgery that take referrals from three districts of the West Midlands. Of a total of 300 referral letters 217 (72%) specified a NICE-compliant diagnosis. A total of 267 patients (89%) were advised to have third molars removed and all three units achieved 100% compliance with NICE guidelines. There was a concordance of diagnosis of 69% between referring general dental practitioners and attending oral surgeons (concordance was 79% if only those referral letters that carried a specific indication were considered). Disease-free wisdom teeth made up a mean of only 6% of all referrals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Edgbaston, Birmingham B152TH, UK.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lopes
mesh_terms: D019230:Dental Audit; D004739:England; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013515:Surgery, Oral; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D006113:United Kingdom