A study of patients referred for wisdom teeth removal was carried out,
to investigate symptoms prior to consultation and during the period o
n the waiting List for surgery. The reasons for treatment of asymptoma
tic wisdom teeth were investigated. Pain was the main indication for s
urgery in 73.7% of patients waiting for consultation. 168 patients wai
ting for consultation consumed a total of 271 courses of antibiotics,
averaging 1.6 courses of antibiotics per patient. The antibiotic consu
mption increased to an average of 2.5 courses per patient in 94 patien
ts waiting for operation. 67 out of 423 patients had an average of thr
ee lost working days due to symptoms from wisdom teeth. The long waiti
ng list for consultation and treatment added further to the discomfort
. The extent of symptoms from wisdom teeth may be underestimated.