Stability of periodontal healing distal to the second mandibular molar after third molar coronectomy: A 3-year follow-up study

Publication date: Available online 3 September 2018

Source: Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Author(s): Elisabetta Vignudelli, Giuseppe Monaco, Maria Rosaria Antonella Gatto, Tommaso Costi., Claudio Marchetti, Giuseppe Corinaldesi

ABSTRACT

Purpose

The stability of the periodontal attachment distal to the second mandibular molar after coronectomy of the third molar is still unclear. This study addressed the question of whether periodontal measures are stable over time among patients undergoing coronectomy.

Methods

This prospective cohort study enrolled 30 patients treated at the Unit of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the University of Bologna. The predictor variables were the probing pocket depth (PPD), the distance between the marginal crest (MC) and the bottom of the osseous defect (BOD), and the distance between the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and the BOD. Three points on the distal surface of the second molar were recorded: the disto-buccal (DB), disto-medial (M), and disto-lingual (DL) sites. The DB site was used as the statistical unit. The Wilcoxon test for paired data and Kendall's tau-b were used to evaluate all variables. The significance level was set at P < 0.05.

Results

The 3-year follow-up was completed by 27 patients (7 males, 20 females; mean age 28 ± 7 years) with 30 third molars. At 3 years, the PPD was 4 ± 1.25 mm; no significant changes in PPD were recorded for all sites from 9 months to 3 years. For MC–BOD and CEJ–BOD, significant reductions were evident between preoperative values and those at 9–36 months (p = 0.001) and between values at 9 and at 36 months (p = 0.02).

Conclusion

A clinical healthy periodontium distal to the second molar was observed 36 months after coronectomy. However, further studies are necessary to confirm these preliminary clinical results.

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