Effect of Asymptomatic Visible Third Molars on Periodontal Health of Adjacent Second Molars: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Evidence that asymptomatic third molars (M3s) negatively affect their adjacent second molars (A-M2s) is limited. The present study evaluated the association between visible M3s (V-M3s) of various clinical status with the periodontal pathologic features of their A-M2s.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Subjects with at least 1 quadrant having intact first and second molars, either with V-M3s and symptom free or without adjacent V-M3s, were enrolled in the present cross-sectional investigation. Periodontal parameters, including plaque index (PLI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD), and at least 1 site with a PPD of 5 mm or more (PPD5+), obtained from M2s were analyzed according to the presence or absence of V-M3s or the status of the M3s. The χ2 test or t test was used to compare the mean PLI, PPD, BOP percentage, and PPD5+ percentage. The association of PPD5+ with V-M3 status was assessed using a multivariable logistic regression model (quadrant-based analysis), and variances were adjusted for clustered observations within subjects.

RESULTS:

In total, 572 subjects were enrolled in the study, and 423 had at least 1 V-M3. At the in-quadrant level, the presence of a V-M3 significantly increased M2 pathologic parameters, including PLI, PPD, BOP, and PPD5+. When analyzed using a multivariate logistic regression model, impacted M3s and normally erupted M3s significantly elevated the risk of PPD5+ on their A-M2s (odds ratio 3.20 and 1.67, respectively). Other factors associated with an increased odds of PPD5+ were mandibular region and older age. Finally, the patient-matched comparison showed that the percentage of BOP and PPD5+ on M2s increased when V-M3s were present.

CONCLUSIONS:

Irrespective of their status, the presence of V-M3s is a risk factor for the development of periodontal pathologic features in their A-M2s. Although the prophylactic removal of asymptomatic V-M3s remains controversial, medical decisions should be made as early as possible, because, ideally, extraction should be performed before symptom onset.

• Authors: Hong-Lei Qu, Bei-Min Tian, Kun Li, Li-Na Zhou, Zhi-Bang Li, Fa-Ming Chen
• Journal: Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery : official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (J Oral Maxillofac Surg) Vol. 75 Issue 10 Pg. 2048-2057 (Oct 2017) ISSN: 1531-5053 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 28495409 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2017 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Molar
• Molar, Third
• Periodontal Diseases (epidemiology)
• Periodontal Index
• Young Adult