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Prophylactic removal of asymptomatic third molars: A review
Author(s) -
Godfrey Keith,
Dent Khon Kaen
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
australian dental journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.701
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1834-7819
pISSN - 0045-0421
DOI - 10.1111/j.1834-7819.1999.tb00225.x
Subject(s) - molar , dentistry , dentition , medicine , asymptomatic , orthodontics , dental arch , surgery
Abstract Mandibular and maxillary third molars are mostly consigned to ‘waste bins’ in dental practices because they are terminal in developmental timing and positioning in the dental arches, and regarded as functionally non‐essential. Thus, many dental practitioners do not attach significance to the presence of third molars when making therapeutic recommendations to patients about preservation of the dentition. The need for taking more a serious account of third molars is reviewed in this paper.