Perceived risk of future pathology associated with pathology-free third molars: a comparison of oral and maxillofacial surgeons and family dentists

Objective To examine and compare practitioners' judgements of risk of future pathology associated with pathology-free disease asymptomatic third molars.

Subjects 10 oral and maxillofacial surgeons and 18 family dentists (90% male) with experience ranging from 5–28 years.

Method Participants were presented with periapical radiographs of 36 asymptomatic, disease-free mandibular third molars and were informed of the age and sex of the patients and the degree of eruption of the third molars. Participants were asked to assess likelihood of future pathology in general, and more specifically, likelihood of root resorption, pericoronitis, periodontitis, cystic change and neoplasia if the third molar was left in situ.

Results There was significant variation between the 28 raters but not between the two groups. Excepting assessment of future cystic change, there was no evidence that oral and maxillofacial surgeons and family dentists rated the 36 cases in consistently different ways.

Conclusions Practitioners varied very considerably in their judgment of the risks of pathology associated with asymptomatic disease-free third molars. Specialisation, did not account for this variation.