Almpani K, Kolokitha OE. Role of third molars in orthodontics. World J Clin Cases 2015; 3(2): 132-140 [PMID: 25685759 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v3.i2.132]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Olga-Elpis Kolokitha, DDS, MSD, Dent, Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, University Campus, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece. okolok@dent.auth.gr
Research Domain of This Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Clin Cases. Feb 16, 2015; 3(2): 132-140 Published online Feb 16, 2015. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v3.i2.132
Role of third molars in orthodontics
Konstantinia Almpani, Olga-Elpis Kolokitha
Konstantinia Almpani, Forsyth Institute, Boston, MA 02115, United States
Olga-Elpis Kolokitha, Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Author contributions: Almpani K and Kolokitha OE contributed equally to this work.
Conflict-of-interest: There is no conflict of interest to be declared regarding the material discussed in this study.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Correspondence to: Olga-Elpis Kolokitha, DDS, MSD, Dent, Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, University Campus, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece. okolok@dent.auth.gr
Telephone: +30-2310-999556 Fax: +30-2310-999549
Received: July 28, 2014 Peer-review started: July 30, 2014 First decision: September 29, 2014 Revised: November 15, 2014 Accepted: November 27, 2014 Article in press: December 1, 2014 Published online: February 16, 2015
Abstract
The role of third molars in the oral cavity has been extensively studied over the years. Literature includes numerous diagnostic and treatment alternatives regarding the third molars. However, an issue that has not been discussed at the same level is their involvement in orthodontic therapy. The aim of this study is to present a review of the contemporary literature regarding the most broadly discussed aspects of the multifactorial role of third molars in orthodontics and which are of general dental interest too.
Core tip: There are multiple factors associated with the eruption or impaction of third molars. According to the existing literature, orthodontic extraction treatment is not directly associated with the eruption of third molars, but might have a positive effect on their position and angulation. There is currently no reliable research evidence supporting the prophylactic removal of non-pathological impacted third molars for the prevention or relief of mandibular incisor crowding.
