Extraction of the third molar and patient satisfaction

Patient satisfaction is an important outcome measure of health care. This study was designed to evaluate patient satisfaction with extraction of the third molar in relation to certain criteria involving structure, process, and outcome. A 16-item patient-satisfaction questionnaire was developed and mailed to 262 patients who had third molars extracted in a university-based clinical department during an 18-month period. The returned questionnaires were subjected to a factor analysis by means of the varimax method; the analysis yielded three "clusters" that we labeled "general satisfaction," "interpersonal satisfaction," and "satisfaction with cost." Two-tailed Student's t tests were used to relate the clinical data to each area of satisfaction. There were a total of six statistically significant interactions in the data matrix at the 0.05 level. Three of these pertained to general satisfaction and three to interpersonal satisfaction. The methods used in this study can be used to relate components of patient satisfaction to elements of dental care.