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[The fate of retained mandibular wisdom teeth]
1Vakgroep Mondziekten en Kaakchirurgie van het Academisch Ziekenhuis van de Vrije Universiteit te Amsterdam/Academisch Centrum Tandheelkunde Amsterdam.
Objective:
To describe the fate of retained lower wisdom teeth.
Design:
An inquiry by telephone was done in patients who were registered five years previously and who at that time had at least one lower wisdom tooth. Questions were asked regarding symptoms and treatment of these teeth.
Setting:
Tertiary referral centre.
Methods:
Retrospective, descriptive.
Results:
Fifteen out of 55 teeth were removed within the period of five years. Almost all teeth (93.3%) were removed as a preventive treatment.
Conclusion:
Lower wisdom teeth that have been asymptomatic for a longer period of time have a small chance of becoming symptomatic; removal is not indicated in such circumstances.