A regimen of systematic periodontal care after removal of impacted mandibular third molars manages periodontal pockets associated with the mandibular second molars.
OBJECTIVE
This randomized, single-blinded control trial investigated the local effects of periodontal care on the mandibular second molar delivered during and after impacted third molar surgical extraction.


METHODS
Thirty subjects (50% male, 32.1+/-7.8 years) out of 35 enrolled, with a mesio-angular impacted mandibular third molar, having probing pocket depth (PPD) >5 mm at adjacent second molar distal, and crestal radio-lucency between the two teeth, completed the study. Oral hygiene instruction, scaling and caries stabilization were performed before surgery. Controls (n=16) had their third molar extracted followed by standard socket debridement. Test group subjects (n=14) received the same treatment, except that before wound closure the operator was informed of the group allocation and ultrasonic root debridement on the second molar was performed, followed by a three-visit plaque control programme.


RESULTS
Six months post-extraction, statistically significantly (p<0.007) better plaque control and shallower probing depths were observed at test second molars' distal (%plaque=21; PPD=3.2+/-1.2 mm) than at control second molars (%plaque=88; PPD=5.2+/-0.7 mm).


CONCLUSIONS
The periodontal interventions investigated prevented residual pockets on periodontally involved second molars 6 months after ipsilateral impacted mandibular third molar removal.
Leung
W Keung
WK
Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. ewkleung@hkucc.hku.hk
Corbet
Esmonde F
EF
Kan
Kwok Wing
KW
Lo
Edward C M
EC
Liu
Jerry K S
JK
D000328:Adult; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control; D012534:Dental Scaling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000628:therapy*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D018401:Sample Size; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013357:Subgingival Curettage; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy