title: Monitoring for periodontal inflammatory disease in the third molar region.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess changes at 2-year intervals in the periodontal status of the third molar region in participants enrolled with asymptomatic third molars and no clinical evidence of third molar region periodontal pathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  The included participants who presented with a healthy periodontal status (all probing depths [PDs], <4 mm) in the third molar region, defined as distal of second molars and around adjacent third molars, were from a larger longitudinal study of participants with asymptomatic third molars. Full-mouth periodontal PD data from 6 sites per tooth were obtained clinically at enrollment and at subsequent 2-year intervals. Data were aggregated to the patient level. Outcome variables were the presence or absence of periodontal pathology, defined as at least 1 PD of at least 4 mm in the third molar region.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred twenty-nine participants had a third molar region PD shallower than 4 mm at enrollment. Most participants were Caucasian (85%), women (60%), younger than 25 years (62%), educated beyond high school (84%), and with good oral health habits. At 6 years, excluding the 61 participants lost to follow-up, 47% participants had had third molars removed, 21% had developed at least 1 PD of at least 4 mm in the third molar region since enrollment, and 32% retained the periodontal status at enrollment (all PDs in third molar region, <4 mm). Demographic characteristics were not statistically different for participants followed for 6 years compared with those lost to follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although not all participants could be followed for 6 years after enrollment or chose to retain third molars, one third of participants maintained the third molar region periodontal status assessed at baseline for 6 years after enrollment; no clinical evidence of pathology developed over time.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Brent A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Golden
authors.affiliation: Senior Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.affiliation: Dental Student, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sherwood
authors.affiliation: Dental Student, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Abdelbaky
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Ceib
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Kenan Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Offenbacher
authors.affiliation: Dalton L. McMichael Distinguished Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC. Electronic address: ray_white@unc.edu.
authors.forename: Raymond P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000601:surgery; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007347:Insurance, Dental; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000145:classification* / Q000601:surgery; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014098:Toothache / Q000601:surgery; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult