[Wisdom teeth: which way to go?]

The debate regarding prophylactic extraction of mandibular third molar (Wisdom teeth) is not new. There is wide agreement among clinicians and researchers that an extraction in young age is easier and safer, but it may result in overtreatment, which means an unnecessary extraction of teeth that might have been functional and healthy. In order to avoid such overtreatment the clinician is obliged to be able to predict accurately the chances of third molar eruption, years before they are due to erupt. Additionally, the clinician has to estimate the chances for future pathology or infection that will force the patient to extract the tooth in years to come. In order to do so the clinician has to meticulously examine the teeth both clinically (including caries assessment of neighboring teeth, periodontal pocket depth measurements etc.) and radiographically. The purpose of this literature review is to present a balanced approach towards the issue of early prophylactic extraction of mandibular third molar.