title: Inflammatory mediators and periodontitis in patients with asymptomatic third molars.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our goal was to report the detection and levels of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) inflammatory mediators, sampled at the mesial of 4 first molars and distal of 4 second molars, in 316 patients with asymptomatic third molars.
  
  
  METHODS
  Levels of GCF inflammatory mediators, interleukin (IL)-1 beta and prostaglandin (PG)E(2), were determined and log transformed for each patient. Z scores were calculated using the mean and standard deviation of the log values for the entire sample of 316 patients. The log mediator levels and Z scores of patients who had probing depths (PDs) less than 5 mm (n = 238) were compared with patients with at least 1 PD equal to or greater than 5 mm (n = 78) on the distal of second molars or around third molars. A periodontal Composite GCF Inflammation Score was calculated for each patient by summing the Z scores obtained for IL-1 beta and PGE(2) for that patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of GCF IL-1 beta and PGE(2) were higher if a patient had a PD equal to or greater than 5 mm in the third molar region. The Composite GCF Inflammation Score indicated "elevated inflammation" if a PD equal to or greater than 5 mm was found in the third molar region as well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that asymptomatic patients with PD equal to or greater than 5 mm in the third molar region with associated periodontal attachment loss have increased levels of biochemical mediators of inflammation compared with patients with PD less than 5 mm. These findings are consistent with the concept that early periodontitis in young adults that initiates in the third molar region is associated with increases in key inflammatory mediators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7450, USA. ray_white@dentistry.unc.edu
authors.forename: Raymond P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Offenbacher
authors.forename: Ceib
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Haug
authors.forename: George H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Blakey
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Marciani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar; D008964:Molar, Third; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000503:physiopathology; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000175:diagnosis; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015232:Dinoprostone