Third molor extractions among Australian adults: findings from the 2013 National Dental Telephone Interview Survey

A scoping review of the economic impact of family oral health: Implications for public health, research, and policy

OBJECTIVES

To summarize evidence on the impact of oral health on individual and family economic outcomes, describe trends in the literature, and identify areas for additional research to inform public health research and practice.

METHODS

Searches were conducted within PubMed, CINAHL, EconLit, Cochrane Library, PsycInfo, and Web of Science databases. Article review, selection, abstraction, and reporting processes were guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews.

RESULTS

Of 2758 unduplicated records identified, 52 met inclusion criteria. Study outcomes included indicators of employment/employability (n = 9), earnings/earnings potential (n = 26), parent missed work and family financial impacts of child oral health (n = 19), and financial loss (n = 3). Dental caries-related variables were the most common predictors of poorer economic outcomes. Other oral health problems, such as poorer dental functioning or poorer self-reported oral health status, also were associated with adverse economic outcomes. Significant associations with employment were found among studies that assessed interventions designed to improve oral health. Only one study estimated the impact of oral health on earnings. One-third of studies conducted multivariable analyses, and 14% incorporated race and ethnicity variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Although existing evidence suggests associations between oral health problems and poorer economic outcomes, there is a substantial need for more rigorous research to better understand the extent of economic impact of oral health problems and which populations are most affected. Additional high-quality research is needed to inform which interventions are most likely to improve oral health, reduce adverse economic impacts, and promote health and economic equity.

Factors affecting number of third molars extracted in a single visit

OBJECTIVE

This cross-sectional study evaluated the number and characteristics of third molars extracted in a single visit in primary care and their associations with patient's age and sex and operator's experience.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The data included all appointments where routine and surgical extractions of third molars were performed in 2016 in primary care of the City of Helsinki. Statistics included χ2 and Mann-Whitney U tests, and binomial logistic regression.

RESULTS

In total of 10,894 appointments, the number of extracted third molars was 12,728, yielding an average of 1.2 third molars per visit. Mean age of patients (55% women, 45% men) at extraction was 32.2 years (range 12 - 97 years). Most appointments (83.7%, n = 9,118) comprised extraction of one, 15.8% two, 0.4% three, and 0.1% four third molars. Number of teeth extracted at a time did not differ by sex. Increasing age was associated with a reduction in the likelihood of several third molar extractions in a visit (OR 0.96; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.96-0.97). Multiple third molars were extracted significantly more likely if the operator was experienced (OR 2.32; 95%CI 1.90-2.84). Multiple extractions were also associated with the mandible, operative extractions, unerupted teeth and caries.

CONCLUSIONS

Third molars were typically extracted one at a time. In health care units, it is appropriate to consider extraction of several third molars in a single visit, if need for extraction of other third molars exist. Concentrating the extractions of younger patients on experienced operators would reduce the number of patients' visits.

Variations in reporting of clinician-reported outcome measures in third molar surgery: A focused review

Clinician-reported outcome measures (ClinRO measures) play a fundamental role in quality assurance throughout healthcare systems. With commissioners turning ever more frequently to ClinRO data to evaluate and compare individual hospital performance and casemix, and funding decisions increasingly relying on these data, agreed core outcome sets (COS) are essential for the collection of standardised specialty-specific outcomes. Beyond their role in service commissioning, COS enable standardisation of outcomes in clinical studies, allowing comparisons to be drawn between similar trials as well as pooling of data for systematic reviews and metaanalyses. This review explores those ClinRO measures most commonly reported in the third molar literature, highlighting inconsistencies in ClinRO selection, measurement and reporting among researchers. We recognise here a prime opportunity for the specialty to address this lag in COS relative to other surgical specialties. With the Quality Outcomes in Maxillofacial Surgery (QOMS) overseeing the institution of many subspecialty-specific national databases in recent years, OMFS is well placed to develop a series of COS for each subspecialty domain for the benefit of researchers, clinicians and ultimately, patients.

Coronectomy of mandibular third molars: a systematic literature review and case studies

BACKGROUND

Extraction of mandibular third molars (M3M) close to the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) has a higher risk of neurological disturbance. This review aims to evaluate the evidence supporting the use of the coronectomy technique compared to complete extraction for such M3Ms. Case studies by a specialist oral and maxillofacial surgeon are included to illustrate clinical practice.

METHODS

Three databases (Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed) were searched (November 2020). Additional articles were sought by hand searching the reference list of included articles. All studies published in English comparing outcomes of coronectomy with complete extraction with at least 50 subjects and 6 months follow-up were included.

RESULTS

Of the six included studies, five reported a lower rate of IAN disturbance after coronectomy compared with complete extraction. There were no reported cases of lingual nerve disturbance. Other outcomes of coronectomy such as pain, infection, alveolar osteitis were either similar or lower compared to complete extraction. There were high rates of root migration but low rates of exposure and reoperation. Follow-up protocols varied considerably.

CONCLUSIONS

There is medium quality evidence to support the option of coronectomy for high risk M3M cases. Further studies to develop follow-up protocols to assist general dental practice is warranted.