AJPH
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

AJPH First Look, published online ahead of print Jul 31, 2007
This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Spanish Abstract
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
AJPH.2006.100271v1
97/9/1554    most recent
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Purchase Article
Right arrow View Shopping Cart
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Friedman, J. W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Friedman, J. W.
Related Collections
Right arrow Dental/Oral Health
Right arrow Epidemiology
Right arrow Health Policy
Right arrow Quality of Care
Right arrow Injury/Emergency Care/Violence
Right arrow Prevention
September 2007, Vol 97, No. 9 | American Journal of Public Health 1554-1559
© 2007 American Public Health Association
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2006.100271

HEALTH POLICY AND ETHICS

The Prophylactic Extraction of Third Molars: A Public Health Hazard

Jay W. Friedman, DDS, MPH

Jay W. Friedman is a retired general dentist and a consultant and writer living in Los Angeles, Calif.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Jay W. Friedman, 3057 Queensbury Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90064 (e-mail: drjfriedman{at}sbcglobal.net).

Ten million third molars (wisdom teeth) are extracted from approximately 5 million people in the United States each year at an annual cost of over $3 billion.

In addition, more than 11 million patient days of "standard discomfort or disability"—pain, swelling, bruising, and malaise—result postoperatively, and more than 11000 people suffer permanent paresthesia—numbness of the lip, tongue, and cheek—as a consequence of nerve injury during the surgery. At least two thirds of these extractions, associated costs, and injuries are unnecessary, constituting a silent epidemic of iatrogenic injury that afflicts tens of thousands of people with lifelong discomfort and disability.

Avoidance of prophylactic extraction of third molars can prevent this public health hazard.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Am. J. Public HealthHome page
L. D. Pollan and M. A. Pogrel
LONG-TERM OUTCOME OF RETAINED THIRD MOLARS IS UNKNOWN
Am J Public Health, April 1, 2008; 98(4): 580 - 581.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Public HealthHome page
T. B. Dodson
MYTHBUSTERS AND WISDOM TEETH
Am J Public Health, April 1, 2008; 98(4): 581 - 582.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Public HealthHome page
J. W. Friedman
FRIEDMAN RESPONDS
Am J Public Health, April 1, 2008; 98(4): 582 - 582.
[Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2007 by the American Public Health Association