TABLE 2—
Associations Between Adherence to Dentist Recommendation to Remove Third Molars and Patient Demographic and Clinical Characteristics and Dental Practice Characteristics: Northwest Practice-based REsearch Collaborative in Evidence-based DENTistry, Pacific Northwest, 2009–2011
| Adherence to Recommendation to Remove Third Molars |
|||
| Characteristic | Total No. | % | AOR (95%CI) |
| Gender | |||
| Female | 151 | 58 | 1.0 (Ref) |
| Male | 149 | 52 | 0.8 (0.4, 1.4) |
| Age, y | |||
| 16 | 73 | 60 | 1.0 (Ref) |
| 17 | 64 | 63 | 1.3 (0.7, 2.4) |
| 18 | 68 | 49 | 0.9 (0.3, 3.1) |
| 19 | 35 | 60 | 1.9 (0.3, 12.7) |
| 20 | 26 | 46 | 1.3 (0.3, 6.0) |
| > 20 | 34 | 47 | 1.5 (0.3, 8.6) |
| Race | |||
| White | 273 | 56 | 1.0 (Ref) |
| Other | 23 | 57 | 1.2 (0.4, 3.9) |
| Dental insurance | |||
| Medicaid | 30 | 63 | 1.0 (Ref) |
| None | 12 | 67 | 1.4 (0.3, 7.4) |
| Private | 257 | 54 | 0.6 (0.2, 1.9) |
| School attendance | |||
| Not in school | 37 | 49 | 1.0 (Ref) |
| Part-time college | 13 | 23 | 0.2 (0.1, 1.1) |
| High school | 152 | 61 | 1.9 (0.5, 7.5) |
| Full-time college | 96 | 53 | 1.3 (0.5, 3.8) |
| Employed | |||
| No | 228 | 57 | 1.0 (Ref) |
| Yes | 70 | 50 | 0.9 (0.5, 1.7) |
| Dental cleanings/y | |||
| ≥ 2 | 202 | 56 | 1.0 (Ref) |
| 1 | 67 | 57 | 1.2 (0.8, 1.8) |
| < 1 | 30 | 43 | 0.9 (0.5, 2.0) |
| Orthodontic treatment everab | |||
| No | 104 | 44 | 1.0 (Ref) |
| Yes | 195 | 61 | 2.4 (1.2, 4.7) |
| Eruption statusb (worst in patient) | |||
| Fully or partially erupted | 22 | 36 | 1.0 (Ref) |
| Soft tissue impaction | 43 | 65 | 6.6 (1.7, 26.2) |
| Partial bony impaction | 118 | 57 | 3.6 (0.7, 17.2) |
| Complete bony impaction | 117 | 54 | 2.0 (0.4, 10.4) |
| Angulation (highest in patient) | |||
| ≤ 35 degrees | 118 | 59 | 1.0 (Ref) |
| > 35 degrees | 182 | 53 | 1.0 (0.6, 1.8) |
| Pain or discomfort around third molars | |||
| No | 248 | 54 | 1.0 (Ref) |
| Yes | 51 | 63 | 1.3 (0.7, 2.7) |
| Caries in second or third molars | |||
| No | 276 | 56 | 1.0 (Ref) |
| Yes | 24 | 50 | 0.6 (0.2, 1.8) |
| TMD signs/symptomsab | |||
| None | 194 | 56 | 1.0 (Ref) |
| Jaw popping/clicking but no pain | 42 | 36 | 0.5 (0.2, 1.0) |
| Pain on opening or in temples, jaw joint, or jaw muscles | 63 | 67 | 1.8 (1.0, 3.3) |
| Dentist philosophy on asymptomatic third molar management | |||
| Recommend removal of most third molars for prevention | 49 | 55 | 1.0 (Ref) |
| Recommend removal if asymptomatic but poor eruption path or insufficient space | 249 | 55 | 1.0 (0.4, 2.3) |
| Recommend removal only if symptoms or pathology detected | 2 | 50 | 2.1 (0.1, 38.8) |
| Dentist gender | |||
| Male | 277 | 55 | 1.0 (Ref) |
| Female | 23 | 57 | 1.0 (0.4, 2.3) |
| Dental practice sizeab | |||
| > 1 dentist | 65 | 37 | 1.0 (Ref) |
| Solo | 235 | 60 | 3.3 (1.7, 6.4) |
| Dentist experience, y | |||
| ≤ 20 | 117 | 55 | 1.0 (Ref) |
| > 20 | 183 | 56 | 1.1 (0.4, 2.9) |
| Dental practice patients/d | |||
| ≤ 40 | 36 | 44 | 1.0 (Ref) |
| 41–60 | 264 | 57 | 1.4 (0.5, 3.8) |
| Practice settingb | |||
| Urban | 48 | 46 | 1.0 (Ref) |
| Suburban | 154 | 59 | 2.8 (1.2, 6.5) |
| Rural | 98 | 54 | 2.6 (1.0, 6.4) |
Note. AOR = adjusted odds ratio; CI = confidence interval; GEE = generalized estimating equation; TMD = temporomandibular muscle disorder. Sample size was n = 300.
a
Significant at P < .05 in bivariate GEE logistic regression.
b
Significant at P < .05 in GEE logistic regression with adjustment for all other covariates in table.