Methods: In total, 728 female patients who attended the TMD clinic were drawn from 1st November 2002 backwards until 274 (37.6%) with a diagnosis of disc displacement with reduction were obtained. All female patients over 18 years with a diagnosis of disc displacement with reduction were sent a questionnaire. The control group was 3,603 females selected from the 1998 ADHS.
Results: Of the 260 females who were sent a questionnaire, 183 responded (70.4%) of which 182 compared to 848 female controls. Some, 81 (44.5%) of the cases and 346 (40.8%) of the controls reported at least one of their wisdom teeth removed. In total, the proportions of cases to controls was not statistically significant with an odds ratio of 1.16 (95% CI 0.84, 1.60). However, it was intriguing to see in the age band 31-40 an odds ratio of 2.04 (95% CI 1.15, 3.63). This indicates a significant relationship. All of those had their wisdom teeth removed before NICE guidelines came into effect in the UK.
Conclusions: Third molar extraction is a risk factor for TMD in some age groups. Further investigation to determine the proportion of patients who suffer from TMD symptoms in the months following surgery is required.