Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To identify, over the previous 12 months, whether: (i) dental insurance is associated with a higher number of third molar extractions (TME); (ii) single versus multiple TME is associated with self-rated oral health; and (iii) TME when 18-25 years of age is associated with fewer days absent from work because of dental problems. METHODOLOGY: Australia's 2013 National Dental Telephone Interview Survey, which included: socio-demographics; and number of extractions, reasons for extractions, self-rated oral health and days absent from work because of dental problems, all in the past 12 months. RESULTS: The majority of TME recipients were female [56.6%, standard error (SE) = 6.0%], 18-25 years of age (63.0%, SE = 5.4%), held a tertiary qualification (73.9%, SE = 5.4%), had a total annual household income of ≥$60,000 (58.3%, SE = 6.4%), were dentally insured (52.6%, SE = 6.2%) and received multiple TME (60.9%, SE = 8.5%). Number of TME was associated with having dental insurance [B = 0.97: 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.5-1.5] and days of work absence because of dental problems (B = 1.10; 95% CI: 0.26-1.94). Receiving single TME versus multiple TME was not associated with self-rated oral health (B = -0.25; 95% CI: -0.76 to 0.25). Receiving TME when 18-25 years of age versus when older than 25 years of age was not associated with days absent from work because of dental problems (B = 0.48; 95% CI: -0.37 to 2.33). CONCLUSION: Dental insurance was associated with a higher TME count without improving self-reported oral health in the short-term. Using age as a justification for prophylactic TME might be questionable because, receiving TME when 18-25 years of age versus when older than 25 years of age did not reduce days absent from work because of dental problems.