Third molars in Norwegian general dental practice.

Area of Science:

• Oral Surgery
• Dental Practice
• Public Health

Background:

• Third molar removal is a common dental procedure.
• Understanding practitioners' and students' attitudes is crucial for evidence-based practice.
• Assessing the frequency of indications for third molar removal provides insight into patient needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate Norwegian general dental practitioners' and dental students' attitudes towards third molar removal.
• To evaluate the current practices and perceived indications for third molar surgery.
• To compare the perspectives of experienced practitioners and future dentists.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire survey was distributed to 500 general dental practitioners and 5th-year dental students in Norway.
• Response rates were 60% for practitioners and 43% for students.
• Data from 17 specific questions regarding third molar surgery were analyzed.

Main Results:

• General practitioners' attitudes towards third molar removal indications align with conservative approaches.
• Fifth-year dental students exhibited more radical attitudes regarding third molar removal.
• Practitioners reported using adequate technical measures for surgical third molar removal.
• An estimated 4.3 patients per month present with indications for third molar removal in general practice.

Conclusions:

• Norwegian general dental practitioners generally follow conservative guidelines for third molar removal.
• A discrepancy exists between practitioners' and students' attitudes, with students favoring more aggressive treatment.
• The frequency of third molar removal indications suggests a significant need for this procedure within the patient population.