Guidance on the removal of wisdom teeth

National Institute for Clinical Excellence
Record ID 32000000046
English
Authors' objectives:

To provide guidance on the removal of wisdom teeth (third molars)

Authors' recommendations: Guidance 1.1 The routine practice of prophylactic removal of pathology-free impacted third molars should be discontinued in the NHS. 1.2 The standard routine programme of dental care by dental practitioners and/or paraprofessional staff, need be no different, in general, for pathology free impacted third molars (those requiring no additional investigations or procedures). 1.3 Surgical removal of impacted third molars should be limited to patients with evidence of pathology. Such pathology includes unrestorable caries, non-treatable pulpal and/or periapical pathology, cellulitis, abcess and osteomyelitis, internal/external resorption of the tooth or adjacent teeth, fracture of tooth, disease of follicle including cyst/tumour, tooth/teeth impeding surgery or reconstructive jaw surgery, and when a tooth is involved in or within the field of tumour resection. 1.4 Specific attention is drawn to plaque formation and pericoronitis. Plaque formation is a risk factor but is not in itself an indication for surgery. The degree to which the severity or recurrence rate of pericoronitis should influence the decision for surgical removal of a third molar remains unclear. The evidence suggests that a first episode of pericoronitis, unless particularly severe, should not be considered an indication for surgery. Second or subsequent episodes should be considered the appropriate indication for surgery.
Authors' methods: Systematic review
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=ta001
Year Published: 2000
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: England, United Kingdom
MeSH Terms
  • Dentistry
  • Molar, Third
  • Tooth Extraction
  • Tooth, Impacted
Contact
Organisation Name: National Institute for Clinical Excellence
Contact Address: MidCity Place, 71 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NA, UK. Tel: +44 020 7067 5800; Fax: +44 020 7067 5801
Contact Name: nice@nice.nhs.uk
Contact Email: nice@nice.nhs.uk
Copyright: National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)
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