Substantial evidence strengthens the link between third-molar removal and overall patient health, according to a consortium of international experts who will present their findings at the Third Molar Multidisciplinary Conference, held October 19 in Washington, DC.
A meta-analysis of recent research compares the long-term health of patients who have asymptomatic wisdom teeth removed with those who retain the teeth, according to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS).
At the conference, presenters will discuss the costs of wisdom tooth treatment, "active surveillance" of asymptomatic teeth, the predictability of wisdom tooth behavior over time, and the long-term consequences of retention. Other topics will include new information about the pathologies associated with asymptomatic wisdom teeth, strategies to limit complications and improve recovery, and when to have wisdom teeth removed.
Scheduled speakers include:
- Ira Cheifetz, D.M.D., 2009-2010 president, AAOMS
- Louis Rafetto, D.M.D., chair, AAOMS Task Force on Third Molars
- M. Anthony Pogrel, D.D.S., M.D., University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry
- James Swift, D.D.S., University of Minnesota
- Raymond White Jr., D.D.S., Ph.D., University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Dentistry
- Steven Offenbacher, D.D.S., Ph.D., UNC School of Dentistry
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