Expert consensus on the management of third molar health
The third molar is the most developmentally delayed of the permanent teeth and has the highest incidence of pericoronitis and odontogenic space infections. Impacted third molars significantly increase the risk of periodontitis, dental caries, and external root resorption of adjacent second molars. Third molars are associated with complex surgical procedures, and treatment decisions and clinical management of third molars in this context remain controversial. This expert consensus was generated by oral surgeons and related specialists, who synthesized the current evidence-based literature and contemporary clinical practices. This consensus addresses critical considerations: the developmental trajectory and impaction characteristics of third molars, clinical and radiographic examinations of third molars, classification of impacted third molars, adverse effects of impacted third molars on oral health, indications for extraction, preoperative preparation for impacted third molar removal, anesthetic choices for impacted third molar surgery, recommended surgical protocol for impacted third molar removal, application of implant materials in alveolar sockets, management of common severe complications in impacted third molar extraction, and functional utilization of impacted third molars. Based on a comprehensive expert deliberation, this consensus provides evidence-based clinical guidance and standardized protocols for dental practitioners in the context of third molar management and therapeutic decision-making.
Authors
- Jian Pan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1346-048X)
- Yujiang Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4847-6273)
- Jihong Zhao
- Wei Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3113-9577)
- Songling Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5528-2453)
- Bing Han (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4584-1092)
- Jian Zhou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5467-1131)
- Zhige Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1510-9079)
- K. Hu
- Bo Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0406-8072)
- Rui Sun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4054-1365)
- Guowen Sun
- Ye Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4831-9729)
- Kang Gao
- Fudong Zhu
- Duohong Zou
- Nianhui Cui
- Yifan Xu
- Yang Xue
- Yang Wu
- Zhigui Ma
- Liao Wang
- Chenchen Zhou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6427-5869)
- Yu Cai
- Haikuo Tang
- Xiangliang Xu
- Qing Zhou
- Xing Wang
- Yanping Hu
Institutions
- Fujian Medical University (CN)
- Nanchang University (CN)
- Sun Yat-sen University (CN)
- Shanxi Medical University (CN)
- Capital Medical University (CN)
- Jilin University (CN)
- Peking University (CN)
- Sichuan University (CN)
- Wuhan University (CN)
- First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University (CN)
- National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases (CN)
- Shanghai Stomatological Hospital (CN)
- Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital (CN)
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital (CN)
- National Clinical Research (US)
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University (CN)
- Stomatology Hospital (CN)
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (CN)
- First Hospital of Lanzhou University (CN)
- Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital (CN)
- Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University
- Zhejiang University (CN)
- Lanzhou University (CN)
- Nanjing Medical University (CN)
- China Medical University (CN)
- Air Force Medical University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- International Journal of Oral Science
- Published
- 2026-04-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41368-025-00413-4
- Primary Topic
- Dental Radiography and Imaging
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00