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Evaluation of the Costs and Relative Effectiveness of Alternative Strategies for the Removal of Mandibular Third Molars

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2009

J. F. Camilla Tulloch
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Alexia A. Antczak-Bouckoms
Affiliation:
Harvard University
Nancy Ung
Affiliation:
University of Washington

Abstract

Decision analysis is used to compare the cost and disability of alternative treatment strategies for asymptomatic mandibular third molars. The analysis shows that extracting only those third molars that remain impacted and become pathologically involved is always associated with less expected cost and disability than prophylactic removal of asymptomatic wisdom teeth.

Type
Special Section: Assessing the Technology of Dentistry, Part II
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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