The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of prophylactic removal of wisdom teeth.

Citations Over TimeTop 1% of 2000 papers

Abstract

Forty studies were included in the review: two RCTs, 34 literature reviews, and four decision analysis studies. One RCT in the UK focused on the effects of retained third molars on incisor crowding (predominantly a cosmetic problem) in patients who had previously undergone orthodontic treatment. The results of this trial suggested that the removal of third molars to prevent late incisor crowding cannot be justified. Another on-going RCT in Denmark compares the effects and costs of prophylactic removal of third molars with removal according to morbidity. So far, this trial has recruited 200 participants, and preliminary results indicate that watchful waiting may be a promising strategy. However, more data and longer follow-up of patients are needed to conclude which treatment strategy is the most cost-effective. It is also known that a trial is on-going in the USA but no results are available so far. The methodological quality of the literature reviews was generally poor, and none of the reviews was systematic. Conclusions from nine reviews on anterior crowding suggested that there was only a weak association between retention of third molars and crowding. Six out of 21 reviews with a more general scope also concluded that the prophylactic removal of third molars was unjustified. Twelve general reviews did not conclude with a clear message about the management of third molars. Three reviews suggested that prophylactic removal of third molars is appropriate, but these reviews were of poorer methodological quality than the majority of other reviews. Three out of four papers focusing on surgical management expressed

Related Papers

• → A systematic process for Mining Software Repositories: Results from a systematic literature review(2021)43 cited
• → Application of the percentage of non-overlapping data (PND) in systematic reviews and meta-analyses: A systematic review of reporting characteristics(2008)85 cited
• → Methodological quality of systematic reviews in subfertility: a comparison of Cochrane and non-Cochrane systematic reviews in assisted reproductive technologies(2012)50 cited
• → Exploring the Quality of Systematic Reviews on Pharmacist Interventions in Patients With Diabetes(2014)18 cited
• The Development of a Critical Appraisal Tool for Use in Systematic Reviews: Addressing Questions of Prevalence(2014)