| Subjects and methods. Healthy subjects (ASA I, II) with minor pericoronitis symptoms affecting mandibular 3rd molars excluding those who used tobacco or antibiotics, were enrolled in an IRB-approved study. Full mouth periodontal probing was conducted at 6 sites per tooth at 2 time points: enrollment and post-surgery. A periodontal probing depth (PD)&ge4mm was considered an indicator variable for periodontal inflammatory disease. Patients at enrollment were stratified into two groups based on at least one distal of 2nd molar (D2M) PD &ge 4mm or none, and at least one PD. 4mm on probing sites on teeth more anterior in the mouth, the principal explanatory explanatory variables for these analyses at both the subject and jaw levels. Outcome variables post-surgery were the frequency of subjects detected with at least one PD&ge4mm or none, and the number and the extent (% possible probing sites) of PD&ge4mm on D2M and on teeth more anterior in the mouth.Results. Median age for 39 subjects was 22 years (IQ 20.2-25.8). Fifty-nine percent subjects were male 62% were Caucasian. Significantly fewer subjects post-surgery, 20%, had at least one D2M PD&ge4mm as compared to 92% subjects at enrollment (P<0.001). Removal of 3rd molars reduced the extent (% possible) of subjects total number of probing sites &ge4mm, 4.4 to 0.5, and the median number of PD&ge4mm for the D2M, 2 (IQR 2-3) to 0 (IQR 0-0), and for teeth more anterior in the mouth, 2 (IQR 0-5) to 0 (IQR 0-1).Conclusion. Removal of 3rd molars in subjects with minor pericoronitis symptoms may improve periodontal health on the distal of 2nd molars and on teeth more anterior in the mouth. |
