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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Apr 1.
Published in final edited form as: Am J Public Health. 2014 Feb 13;104(4):728–734. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301649

TABLE 2.

Outcomes of Third Molar Removal or Retention—Incidence Rates: Northwest Practice-based Research Collaborative in Evidence-based DENTistry, Pacific Northwest, 2009–2012

Variable Third Molar Removal
Third Molar Retention
No. Cases Total, Person-Years Rate per 100 Person-Years (95% CI) No. Cases Total, Person-Years Rate per 100 Person-Years (95% CI)
TMD
 Jaw clicking or popping 16 137 11.7 (7.2, 19.0) 56 363 15.4 (12.3, 19.4)
 Jaw pain on opening 38 131 29.0 (20.5, 41.1) 24 435 5.5 (3.8, 7.9)
 Pain in temples, jaw joint, or jaw muscles 19 135 14.0 (8.2, 23.9) 27 431 6.3 (4.1, 9.6)
 Either type of TMD pain symptoms 43 126 34.3 (24.0, 48.9) 38 431 8.8 (6.4, 12.2)
Paresthesia
 Paresthesia of lips 11 190 5.8 (3.0, 11.3) 2 549 0.4 (0.1, 1.4)
 Paresthesia of tongue 8 191 4.2 (1.9, 9.1) 3 546 0.5 (0.2, 1.7)
 Paresthesia of lips, tongue, or both 12 190 6.3 (3.4, 11.8) 4 548 0.7 (0.3, 1.9)
Dental cariesa
 Dental caries at distal of second molars 1 528 0.2 (0.0, 1.4) 4 678 0.6 (0.2, 1.5)
 Dental caries at occlusal of third molars NA 9 275 3.3 (1.6, 6.8)
 Dental caries at all other surfaces of third molars NA 3 1226 0.2 (0.1, 1.1)
 Dental caries on third molars, overall NA 12 1501 0.8 (0.4, 1.7)

Note. CI = confidence interval; NA = not applicable; TMD = temporomandibular joint disorder.

a

Dental caries are reported in surface-years