Age of patient at the extraction of the third molar

The purpose of this study was to assess the age of patients at the time of extraction of third molars. Our data included all routine and surgical extractions of third molars (n = 8199 teeth) performed by general and specialist dentists of the public oral health services of the city of Helsinki over the period 2013-2014. Measurements included patient's age, gender, the identified third molar, the type of anaesthesia, the method of extraction, and the diagnosis at extraction. Patients' ages ranged from 10 to 99 years. We found significant differences between younger and older age groups: third molar extractions occurred more often for women than for men below the age of 30 years (P < 0.001) and vice versa for patients older than 30. Extractions were more prevalent for the upper jaw (P < 0.001), and surgical extractions were more common than routine extractions (P < 0.001) below the age of 40 years, but the corresponding prevalences reversed after the age of 40 years. Diagnoses at extraction differed between younger and older patients. We conclude that the treatment pattern of third molars at public health services varies greatly over a lifetime, and that a greater variety exists than had been reported previously from oral and maxillofacial units.