Third molars are the most common impacted teeth and associated with a variety of pathologies. The main treatment for third molars is extraction. There have already been well-established indications for removal of symptomatic third molars, however, controversies still exist with regard to the question whether asymptomatic third molars should be removed. Evidence-based medicine asks doctors to apply the most recent and sound evidence into their clinical practice in order to better serve the patients. The purpose of this paper was to provide recent ponderable evidence to help dentists reevaluate the possible pathology of retained asymptomatic third molars and the potential harm caused by prophylactic removal, and then make a rational evidence-based decision.
