164912 Is prophylactic removal of wisdom teeth a public health hazard? Evidently

Tuesday, November 6, 2007: 12:30 PM

Jay W. Friedman, DDS, MPH , Los Angeles, CA
        
Is the annual extraction of ten million third molars (wisdom teeth) on an estimated 5 million people at an annual cost of over $3 billion necessary to cure or prevent disease? Is there justification for the infliction of over 11 million patient “days of standard discomfort and disability”—pain, swelling, bruising and malaise—and tens of thousands of people suffering from permanent paresthesia—numbness of the lip, tongue and chin—resulting from the surgery? Evidently not. At least two-thirds of these extractions cannot be justified on the basis of present or future pathology. Their extraction is a public health hazard that can be avoided by abstention."

Learning Objectives:
1. To dispel the myths perpetrated by most oral surgeons and many general dentists in support of prophylactic third molar extractions. 2. To inform public health professionals and clinical practitioners of the risks so they may make evidence-based judgments, decisions, policies and recommendations. 3. To encourage governmental and commercial health insurance administrators to implement policies that pay only for necessary wisdom tooth extractions.

Keywords: Evidence Based Practice, Risk Assessment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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