Considerations for the Prophylactic Extraction of Asymptomatic Unerupted Third Molars
Main Article Content
Abstract
The extraction of asymptomatic unerupted third molars (TMNE) is called as "prophylactic" since it try to anticipate the appearance of recognized pathological conditions that ranged from simple dental crowdings to the development of cysts and tumors. This supposed predictability and the implicit risks of this surgery have resulted in arguments that defend, question or accept under certain limits this procedure with still unresolved dilemmas. Nevertheless the clinical activity seems to be much less judicious, with reports that continue promoting the indiscriminate extraction of TMNE with total lack of symptoms or pathological processes. Since the prophylactic extraction of asymptomatic TMNE is a recurrent topic of discussion for its relevance according to the different clinical odontologic disciplines, which many of them enclose its own perspectives only to clinics or to biology, a review on different considerations of this practice is presented, the risks and benefits are discussed, and some ethical dilemmas are exposed to the promotion of a dentallex artis.
References
Adeyemo, W. L. Do pathologies associated with impacted lower third molars justify prophylactic removal? A critical review of the literature. Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol. Oral Radiol. Endod., 102(4):448-52, 2006.
Almendros-Marqués, N.; Alaejos-Algarra, E.; QuinterosBorgarello, M.; Berini-Aytés, L. & Gay-Escoda, C. Factors influencing the prophylactic removal of asymptomatic impacted lower third molars. Int. J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg., 37(1):29-35, 2008.
Barreiro-Torres, J.; Diniz-Freitas, M.; Lago-Méndez, L.; Gude-Sampedro, F.; Gándara-Rey, J. M. & GarcíaGarcía, A. Evaluation of the surgical difficulty in lower third molar extraction. Med. Oral Patol. Oral Cir. Bucal, 15(6):e869-74, 2010.
Boughner, J. C. Maintaining perspective on third molar extraction. J. Can. Dent. Assoc., 79:d106, 2013.
Ciocca Gómez, L. S. Odontología Médico-Legal. Aspectos forenses, profesionales y sociales. Santiago de Chile, Ediciones Jurídicas de Santiago, 2010.
Contar, C. M.; de Oliveira, P.; Kanegusuku, K.; Berticelli, R. D.; Azevedo-Alanis, L. R. & Machado, M. A. Complications in third molar removal: a retrospective study of 588 patients. Med. Oral Patol. Oral Cir. Bucal, 15(1):e74-8, 2010.
Costa, M. G.; Pazzini, C. A.; Pantuzo, M. C.; Jorge, M. L. & Marques, L. S. Is there justification for prophylactic extraction of third molars? A systematic review. Braz. Oral Res., 27(2):183-8, 2013.
Echeverría García, J. J.; Pumarola Suñé, J. El manual de odontología. Barcelona, Masson, 2002.
Ethunandan, M.; Shanahan, D.; Patel, M. Iatrogenic mandibular fractures following removal of impacted third molars: an analysis of 130 cases. Br. Dent. J., 212(4):179-84, 2012.
Friedman, J. W. The prophylactic extraction of third molars: a public health hazard. Am. J. Public Health, 97(9):1554-9, 2007.
Güven, O.; Keskin, A. & Akal, U. K. The incidence of cysts and tumors around impacted third molars. Int. J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg., 29(2):131-5, 2000.
Özçakir-Tomruk, C. & Arslan, A. Mandibular angle fractures during third molar removal: a report of two cases. Aust. Dent. J., 57(2):231-5, 2012.
Pogrel, M. A. What is the effect of timing of removal on the incidence and severity of complications? J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg., 70(9 Suppl. 1):S37-40, 2012.
Raspall, G. Cirugía Oral e Implantología. 2º Ed. Madrid, Panamericana, 2007.
Renton, T.; Smeeton, N. & McGurk, M. Factors predictive of difficulty of mandibular third molar surgery. Br. Dent. J., 190(11):607-10, 2001.
Stathopoulos, P.; Mezitis, M.; Kappatos, C.; Titsinides, S. & Stylogianni, E. Cysts and tumors associated with impacted third molars: is prophylactic removal justified? J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg., 69(2):405-8, 2011.
Subbasbraj, K. A study on the impact of mandibular third molars on angle fractures. J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg., 67(5):968-72, 2009.
Sverzut, C. E.; Trivellato, A. E.; Sverzut, A. T.; Azenha, M. R.; Yamaji, M. A. & Pepato, A. O. Retained third molars removal in a severely resorbed edentulous mandible. A case report. Braz. Dent. J., 24(5):532- 6, 2013.
Van der Sanden, W. J.; Mettes, D. G.; Plasschaert, A. J.; Grol, R. P.; Mulder, J. & Verdonschot, E. H. Effectiveness of clinical practice guideline implementation on lower third molar management in improving clinical decisión-making; a randomized controlled trial. Eur. J. Oral Sci., 113(5):349-54, 2005.
Ventä, I. How often do asymptomatic, disease-free third molars need to be removed? J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg., 70(9 Suppl. 1):S41-7, 2012.