A 10-year comparative study of the incidence of third molar removal in the aging population.

Purpose: The study goal was to evaluate the incidence of patients older than 40 years who required third molar removal.

Patients And Methods: Two prospective 5-year studies were compared over a 10-year period of 1992 to 1997 and 1997 to 2002. The study was initiated to evaluate how the large increase in the older population with longer life expectancies is reflected in the third molar population.

Results: In 1997, 10.5% of patients requiring third molar surgery were 40 years or older. In 2002, 17.3% of patients were 40 years or older.

Conclusions: It is well known that patients 40 years and older have increased risk in removal of third molars. It is concluded that 1 patient in 5 in the high-risk category is in a very high risk category. The risk to patients and to the profession can be dramatically reduced by considering early removal of abnormal third molars.