How dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons deal with tooth extraction without a valid clinical indication

Objectives This study pertains to a secondary data analysis aimed at determining differences between oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMFSs) and dentists handling dental extractions without an evident clinical indication. Study design A survey of 18 questions was conducted among 256 OMFSs in the Netherlands and a random sample of 800 dentists. Respondents could answer the questions in writing or online. The data were collected from November 2019 to January 2020, with two reminders sent. Analysis used descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests. Results The response rate was 28.1% (n = 72) for OMFSs and 30.3% (n = 242) for dentists. In the past three years, 81.9% (n = 59) of OMFSs and 68.0% (n = 164) of dentists received a request for extraction without a clinical indication. The most common reasons were financial and severe dental fear (OMFSs: 64.9% and 50.9% vs dentists: 77.4% and 36.5%). Dentists were significantly more likely (75.6%, n = 114) than OMFSs (60.7%, n = 34) to comply with their last extraction request without a clinical indication. Almost none regretted the extraction afterwards. Regarding the request itself, 17.5% (n = 10) of OMFSs and 12.5% (n = 20) of dentists did not check patients’ mental competency (p = 0.352).