Third molars: To extract or not to extract?

showed that general dentists recommend extraction of third molars in 59% of patients, mainly to prevent future problems or because a third molar had an unfavorable orientation or was unlikely to erupt. However, the power to predict third molar eruption is low, and impacted third molars that remain static, with no changes in position or angu -lation over time, are rare.The ideal moment to determine whether or not to remove third molars is also under debate, since im-paction prediction has not been scientifically proven. Moreover, it is a daunting task to predict this biologi-cal condition with any degree of reliability. Systematic reviews report that there is no evidence to support or refute prophylactic removal of asymptomatic impacted third molars, even in adults.