Incidence of periodontal pockets in erupted third molars as a determinant factor for the prophylactic removal of third molars.

Abstract

The aim of this study, was to determine the incidence of periodontal pockets in third molars erupted in people over 18 apparently healthy, without conditions or additional factors that may affect results; for justify the prophylactic extraction of third molars.

Thirty people were evaluated; with at least 1 third molar in the oral cavity; 60% of patients were male versus 40% female; a total of 83 third molars were analyzed in the 30 patients.

Each patient underwent a clinical test in which consisted in a measurement of the periodontal probing at mesial, middle and distal, buccal and palatal/lingual of third molars, an also in distal zone (buccal and palatal/lingual) to the second molar adjacent thereto; for this analysis, was used Hu- Friedy´s periodontal calibrated probes.

The 71.08 % of the analyzed patients; had at least one periodontal pocket probing with a measure greater than 3mm in third molars, obtaining a probability of 0.7; on the other hand, only 20.48 % of them presented caries. In the analysis of the 76 second molars (distal region) the 69.74 % of them had periodontal pockets; however these variables dependence is negative, and the value obtained was; Sig = 0.125 > 0.05.

In conclusion is recommended; prophylactic removal of third molars, because is very common the presence of at least 1 area with more than 3mm probing; which is directly related to periodontal disorders that threaten oral and systemic health.