Perceived surgical difficulty of mandibular third molar extraction. A comparative cross-sectional study of dentists with postgraduate qualification in oral surgery and maxillofacial surgeons in a Spanish subpopulation.

Background: Mandibular third molar (MTM) extraction is one of the most frequently performed surgeries in the oral cavity. Establishing the level of surgical difficulty pre-operatively is an essential step to ensure correct treatment planning. In Spain, MTM extraction - especially in cases presenting greater difficulty - is normally performed by doctors specializing in oral and maxillofacial surgery, or by dentists with postgraduate qualifications in oral surgery.