The influence of ageing and the contact of the adjacent tooth on purul
ent inflammation associated with the completely impacted lower third m
olar was assessed in 26 patients with clinical symptoms of infection o
ut of 800 patients who had roentgenographically-confirmed completely i
mpacted lower third molars. These 26 patients were 23 years of age or
older. The 9 with pain alone ranged from 25 to 44 years of age, wherea
s the 17 patients with inflammation ranged from 29 to 67 years of age,
and non-contact to adjacent tooth was associated with purulent inflam
mation in older patients, indicating completely impacted lower third m
olars may cause pain only until 45 years of age; but purulent inflamma
tion occurs even in the group of noncontact to adjacent tooth after 45
years of age. The authors recommend that a completely impacted lower
third molar should be removed if the risk factors of advanced age and
contact with the adjacent tooth are present.