Effects of lower third molar removal on attachment level and alveolar bone height of the adjacent second molar

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the periodontal status distal to the adjacent second molar following the extraction of a partially or fully impacted mandibular third molar at Klinik Pergigian Pakar Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (KPPHUSM) from April of 2008 until June of 2008.This was a prospective study which involved the clinical and radiological study of patients. In this study, convenience sampling method had been used. The sample size was 22 patients aged 18-32 years old with inclusion criteria. The outcomes measured in this study were periodontal pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and alveolar bone height (ABH). Subjects were examined at distal surface (disto-buccal, mid-distal and disto-lingual) of second molar for PPD and CAL before and 3 months after the impacted adjacent lower third molar extraction. OPG was taken each before and after the third molar removal. These data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 and Wilcoxon-signed-ranks test was used to compare the PPD, CAL and ABH pre and post operatively. All the results were not significant with p >0.05. For PPD, median = 3mm pre and post extraction. CAL median= 2mm pre and post operatively and ABH median of 3.10mm (before) and 2.8mm (after) the third molar removal. From our study, we concluded that there were no significant changes of PPD, CAL and ABH at distal side of second molar after 3 months of the adjacent impacted lower third molar removal.