Third Molars and Dental Crowding: Different Opinions of Orthodontists and Oral Surgeons

Aim: Evaluate orthodontists and oral surgeons different attitude towards the diagnosis and the therapy of the third molar as a cause of dental crowding. Material and Methods: An on-line research survey was conducted between the member of the Italian Society of Orthodontics (SIDO) and the Italian Society of Oral Surgery (SICOI).The members had to indicate their opinion on the role played by the third molar eruption in the incisor crowding both in the lower and in the upper maxilla. They also had to report their clinical viewpoint on the effectiveness of the third molar extraction in order to prevent dental crowding. Results: 166 members had completed the on-line research survey: 69 oral surgeons (41.6%) and 97 orthodontists (58.4%). The 83.8% of the surgeons and the 82,5% of the orthodontists consider the force generated by the upper third molar's eruption not able to cause dental crowding and the 63,8% of the surgeons and the 52.6% of the orthodontists the force generated by the lower third molar's eruption.Similar percentage was reported about the role of the third molar extraction to prevent dental crowding. The 84.1% of the surgeons and the 89.7% of the orthodontists do not consider advantageous the upper third molar extraction and the 63.2% of the surgeon and the 58.8% of the orthodontists the lower third molar extraction. Conclusions: No statistically significant difference has been reported between orthodontists and oral surgeon. (P>0.005). The orthodontists/oral surgeon majority retains the upper third molar not able to cause dental crowding. Lower percentages are reported for the lower third molar.