Symptoms from impacted wisdom teeth.

A study of patients referred for wisdom teeth removal was carried out, to investigate symptoms prior to consultation and during the period on the waiting list for surgery. The reasons for treatment of asymptomatic wisdom teeth were investigated. Pain was the main indication for surgery in 73.7% of patients waiting for consultation. 168 patients waiting for consultation consumed a total of 271 courses of antibiotics, averaging 1.6 courses of antibiotics per patient. The antibiotic consumption increased to an average of 2.5 courses per patient in 94 patients waiting for operation. 67 out of 423 patients had an average of three lost working days due to symptoms from wisdom teeth. The long waiting list for consultation and treatment added further to the discomfort. The extent of symptoms from wisdom teeth may be underestimated.