Key Points
In brief
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Family dentists tend to over-estimate the probability of rare complications following third molar retention, such as cystic change.
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There was little overall difference in the ability of family dentists and oral surgeons to rate the risk of third molars developing pathology.
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The results emphasise the value of the development of consistent criteria for intervention and of appropriate training before applying such criteria.
Abstract
Objective To examine and compare practitioners' judgements of risk of future pathology associated with pathology-free disease asymptomatic third molars.
Subjects 10 oral and maxillofacial surgeons and 18 family dentists (90% male) with experience ranging from 5–28 years.
Method 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.
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References
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Lowry, J. Pathology-free third molars: assessing the perceived risk of future pathology. Br Dent J 188, 24 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4800376
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4800376
