Abstract
Introduction: The Mandibular Third Molar (M3M), often the last tooth to erupt, is commonly impacted due to insufficient space in the dental arch, leading to various oral health complications such as pericoronitis, infections, root resorption, cysts, and tumours. Notably, mesioangular impaction is the most prevalent type and is closely associated with the caries and periodontal issues of the Mandibular Second Molar (M2M). Periodontal diseases are significant contributors to tooth loss in adults, and the absence of M2M poses challenges for restoration while increasing the burden on remaining teeth.
Aim: To evaluate the effect of extracting mesioangularly impacted M3M on the periodontal status of M2M.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study with pre- and post-comparisons was conducted at Tongji Hospital, affiliated with Tongji University, Shanghai, China, from October 2024 to February 2025. A total of 56 patients were included. Periodontal parameters, including Probing Depth (PD) and Bleeding On Probing (BOP), were evaluated before and after tooth extraction. Statistical analyses were performed using paired comparisons with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, group comparisons with the Mann-Whitney U test and the KruskalWallis test, and unpaired t-test and Welch’s Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) where appropriate. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: There were 32 males and 24 females. The age of patients ranged from 16 to 45 years. Results showed a significant reduction in PD from 4.2±1.1 mm pre-extraction to 2.8±0.9 mm post-extraction (p<0.01). Additionally, factors such as the angulation and depth of impaction were identified as significant risk factors for bone loss around M2M.
Conclusion: The extraction of mesioangularly impacted M3M significantly improves the periodontal health of M2M, supporting the need for timely intervention in similar clinical scenarios. Future studies with larger sample sizes and long-term followups are warranted to further elucidate the relationship between third molar management and periodontal health outcomes in adjacent teeth.