We are pleased and encouraged that Dr. Griffin agrees that the value of the third molar in modern people is questionable. And we appreciate his articulating some of the potential obstacles dental science must overcome in developing a safe and effective methodology to prevent third-molar initiation. We also agree that no preventive therapy should be considered when the risk of the procedure is greater than the potential benefit.
We appear to disagree, however, on whether or not our profession should engage in research efforts to develop bold, innovative and potentially better solutions for the problems third molars pose. While we do not pretend to know the best solution to the problems caused by the third molar, we do know present management solutions result in the pain and suffering of millions of people every year. We choose to embrace a vision of the future that gives hope that our profession can do better.
Today, general dentists routinely treat children between the ages of three and five years. They do not hesitate to inject a small volume of anesthetic solution a few millimeters under the mucosa in the maxillary and mandibular posterior ridge area in order to facilitate therapeutic dental procedures. We see no reason why most general dentists could not render a similar, safe procedure to children for a different therapeutic purpose: that of targeting tooth development.
All the embryological events culminating in the development of a third-molar tooth bud occur after birth and in a location accessible to dentists. It is our hope and belief that our profession can someday offer patients a better management alternative for this nearly useless tooth than those alternatives we currently offer.
