[Dissertations 25 years after date 47. Third molars in the lower jaw].

Mandibular third molar impaction causes many problems in the lower jaw. It has been assumed, for example, that impacted third molars are the cause of recurrent problems following orthodontic treatment. In order to prevent problems surgical removal of third molar buds, a germectomy, was proposed. An important factor was to predict the development of the third molar. In doctoral research, this was investigated. The causal relationship between the eruption of third molars and crowding of the lower front has never been proven. Therefore the preventive removal of asymptomatic impacted lower third molars is not advisable. It is, however, advisable to remove all asymptomatic partially erupted impacted third molars that are mesioangulated, distoangulated or horizontally impacted when the patient is between 18 and 25 years old. The absence of clear and clinically applicable predictions of problems relating to the eruption of third molars limits the indication of their germectomy. This doctoral research from 1990 produced a formula for predicting the eruption of third molars in the lower jaw.