Evaluation of relationship between periodontal pocket on the distal surfaee of mandibular second molar and pattern and depth of third molar impaction

ABSTRACT

One of the asymptomatic lesions associated with an impacted mandibular third molar is localized periodontal pocket on the distal surface of mandibular second molar. In this study, relationship between periodontal pocket on the distal surface of mandibular second molars and pattern and depth of impaction is evaluated. The study was performed experimentally. A group of 100 patients, referring to surgical department of shahed dental school and shahid montazeri clinic [1386-87], were selected sequentially for the purpose. Pattern and depth of mandibular third molar impaction were recorded in studying form according to O.P.G radiograph. The impacted third molars were extracted by means of a clinical indication and depth of periodontal pocket was measured 4-24 months after surgical extraction. Statistical software of SPSS for windows was used for data analysis, using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests for assessing relationship between periodontal pocket depth and pattern and depth of mandibular third molar impaction. The age of the patients was 24.S +/- 7, 55 individuals [55%] were females while the next 45 individuals [45%] were males. There was statistically significant difference between periodontal pocket depth and pattern and depth of mandibular third molar impaction. [p<0.001] Based on the findings of this study, deep periodontal pockets on the distal surface of a mandibular second molar, is mostly associated with horizontal, mesioangular and class C impacted third molar. So, more attention should be given to the detection of signs of periodontal pockets on the distal aspects of mandibular second molars when assessing the clinical state of the adjacent impacted third molars, because pattern and depth of impaction could be very determinative