Patient flows in the care process of mandibular third molar surgery.

Our aim was to describe patient flows in mandibular third molar surgery at oral and maxillofacial specialist units. Our hypothesis was that there are variations in how care is delivered and that the variations could be explained by inter-individual variations in surgeons' practice, the quality of the radiographs appended to the referral, and the staffing of the specialist units. A flow chart was constructed to simulate all possible patient flows in the care process.

Third molar treatment outcome: a comparison of patients' preferences in Sweden and Wales.

Aim: To elucidate and compare patients' outcome preferences for removal and retention of mandibular third molars in Sweden and Wales.

Subjects And Method: The subjects comprised patients referred and scheduled for removal of one or both mandibular third molars in Sweden and Wales. The multi-attribute utility (MAU) methodology was applied to study patients' preferences for outcomes of removal and retention of the mandibular third molar.

A three-year follow-up report of a comparative study of ITI Dental Implants and Brånemark System implants in the treatment of the partially edentulous maxilla.

Background: Many longitudinal studies of different implant systems have been published but few controlled randomized investigations have been reported. A 1-year report of a comparative study of ITI Dental Implant System implants (Straumann AG, Waldenburg, Switzerland) and Brånemark System implants (Nobel Biocare AB, Gothenburg, Sweden) has been published by the present authors. This paper is a 3-year follow-up of that randomized study.

Nonsubmerged and submerged implants in the treatment of the partially edentulous maxilla.

Background: Dental implants vary in design and surfaces. In addition, different surgical techniques have been used for implant insertion. The ITI Dental Implant System (Straumann AG, Waldenburg, Switzerland) has always required a one-stage technique, whereas the Brånemark System (Nobel Biocare AB, Gothenburg, Sweden) requires a two-stage technique.

Dentists' decisions on prophylactic removal of mandibular third molars: a 10-year follow-up study.

Objectives: In recent years, several critical outcome studies concerning the prophylactic removal of mandibular third molars have been published. These would appear to motivate a more restrictive approach today as compared with 10 years ago. The aim of the present study was to examine dentists' decisions on the prophylactic removal of impacted mandibular third molars over a 10-year period.

Comparison of decisions regarding prophylactic removal of mandibular third molars in Sweden and Wales.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that Swedish dentists schedule more mandibular third molars for prophylactic removal compared with UK dentists and oral surgeons.

Design: Clinical and radiographic information relating to a stratified sample of 36 disease-free mandibular third molars (equal distribution of males and females, patients' age, angular position and degree of impaction) was presented to 26 general dental practitioners (GDPs) and 10 oral surgeons in Sweden and 18 GDPs and 10 oral surgeons in Wales who were asked to decide whether or not the third molars should be removed.

Results: There was no evidence of any difference in mean number of molars scheduled for removal by the GDPs, but the Swedish oral surgeons scheduled significantly more third molars for removal than oral surgeons in Wales.

Dentists' judgment strategies on prophylactic removal of mandibular third molars.

The number of molars selected for prophylactic removal varies widely among general dental practitioners and oral surgeons. To understand the basis for such variations, we investigated two hypotheses: (1) Individual judgment strategies will differ concerning the use of cues (items of information), and (2) few dentists will integrate the cues according to evidence in the literature. To analyze 30 general dental practitioners' (GDPs) and 10 oral surgeons' use of cues in the judgment preceding the treatment decision, we used the Brunwik's lens as a conceptual model.

The outcomes of mandibular third molar removal and non-removal: a study of patients' preferences using a multi-attribute method.

The aim was to study patients' preferences about outcomes of mandibular third molar removal and non-removal using multi-attribute utility (MAU) methodology. The study comprised three stages. Stage 1: Elicitation of domains, i.

Mandibular third molars: oral surgeons' assessment of the indications for removal.

The aim was to examine oral surgeons' assessment of the indications for removal of mandibular third molars. Questionnaires were distributed to seven oral and maxillofacial surgery clinics. The oral surgeons were asked to record whether or not there was associated disease.

Mandibular third molars as mediated by three cues. Dentists' treatment decisions on asymptomatic molars compared with molars associated with pathologic conditions.

The aim was to study how three cues (patient's age and angular position and degree of impaction of the molar) were distributed among removed mandibular third molars associated with pathologic conditions and to compare these results with dentists' treatment decisions in another group of molars consisting of asymptomatic mandibular third molars, as mediated by the same cues. The overall agreement was fairly high between the dentists' treatment decisions and the removal rate among the molars subjected to removal. Thus, molars partially covered by soft tissue in patients aged 19 to 40 years had a high removal rate, and molars totally covered by bone tissue had the lowest removal rate in accordance with the dentists' treatment decisions.

Judgement of removal of asymptomatic mandibular third molars: influence of position, degree of impaction, and patient's age.

Our aim was to study general dental practitioners' (GDPs') and oral surgeons' judgement of the need for removal of asymptomatic mandibular third molars, described by three cues. The judges were also asked to estimate the development of pathologic conditions. There was considerable variance with regard to the individual judgements.

Pathoses associated with mandibular third molars subjected to removal.

Objectives: To measure the prevalence of disease of mandibular third molars referred for removal and to estimate the risk for development of pathoses for two cues.

Study Design: A prospective cohort study on molars subjected to removal was performed. The prevalence of different diseases and the patient's age, angular position, and degree of impaction of the molars were registered.

Rating the preventive indication for mandibular third-molar surgery. The appropriateness of the visual analogue scale.

The aim was to determine whether a visual analogue scale (VAS) is an appropriate way for general dental practitioners and oral surgeons to rate their judgement of the indication for therapy of asymptomatic mandibular third molars. Thirty general dental practitioners and 10 oral surgeons had to judge the need for removal of 36 third molars. They were also asked to estimate the strength of the indication for extraction on a VAS.

Judgement on removal of asymptomatic mandibular third molars: influence of the perceived likelihood of pathology.

Thirty general dental practitioners and 10 oral surgeons were asked to judge the need for removal of 36 asymptomatic impacted third molars. To estimate the reliability of the judgement, the 36 cases were duplicated. The participants had to estimate the strength of the indication for extraction and, if the teeth were not extracted, the probability of development of pathology in general and of six specific complications on a Visual Analogue Scale.

General dental practitioners' evaluation of the need for extraction of asymptomatic mandibular third molars.

Thirty general dental practitioners were asked to evaluate the need for extraction of asymptomatic mandibular third molars. Thirty-six mandibular third molars with equal distribution of angular positions, impaction status, males and females and age groups were selected. To estimate the consistency of the evaluation, the 36 cases were duplicated so that, in all, 72 teeth were evaluated.

Asymptomatic mandibular third molars: oral surgeons' judgment of the need for extraction.

Ten oral surgeons were asked to judge the need for extraction of asymptomatic mandibular third molars. Thirty-six mandibular third molars with equal distribution of angular position, impaction status, and patient's sex and age were selected. To estimate the consistency of judgment, the 36 cases were duplicated so that, in all, 72 cases were judged.

Pain control after third molar surgery--a comparative study of ibuprofen (Ibumetin) and a paracetamol/codeine combination (Citodon).

Two analgesics commonly used in oral surgery, ibuprofen (Ibumetin) and a paracetamol/codeine combination (Citodon) have been compared in a single-blind multi-centre trial after third molar surgery. The study comprised 120 patients, 60 in each treatment group. The profiles of postoperative pain in the two groups were similar from the first postoperative day, but Ibumetin was better pain reliever on the day of surgery.

Prevalence of impacted third molars in dental students.

To study the prevalence of third molar impaction in dental students, the radiographs of 113 female and 144 male students in the age groups 20-39 years were investigated. Half of the individuals had all four third molars, whereas 10% of the individuals lacked all third molars. A radiologic definition of impaction, which is illustrated, is suggested.

Postoperative status after partial removal of the mandibular third molar.

The aim of the study was to examine the postoperative status one year after partial removal of the third mandibular molar. Thirty-three third molars were selected because of the proximity of the apices to the mandibular canal and/or complicated root anatomy. At a follow-up examination one year postoperatively, clinical and radiological findings were recorded.

A study of indications used for removal of the mandibular third molar.

To study the indications used for removal of the mandibular third molar, questionnaires were sent to 35 Oral Surgery Clinics in Sweden, out of which 29 clinics participated. In each clinic, the questionnaires were to be recorded for 30 patients. The indications for removal were classified into 15 groups.

Initial Tc-99m diphosphonate uptake in mineralized and demineralized bone implants in rats.

Radionuclide imaging has been suggested as a means to assess healing and viability of bone grafts and implants. This study deals with the in vivo uptake of 99mTc-MDP in the initial postoperative period in rats. Isogeneic or xenogeneic bone was implanted in subcutaneous pouches.