Periodontal healing after mandibular third molar surgery – a comparison of distolingual alveolectomy and tooth division techniques

Abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by Dr Trevor Watts

Abstract

Distolingual alveolectomy gave better results.

Main

Chang H-H, Lee J-J et al. In J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2004; 33: 32–37

Some studies have shown distal periodontal problems on mandibular 2^nd molars after 3^rd molar removal. One operator in a Taiwan Hospital undertook all surgery for 120 consecutive patients with symmetrically impacted pairs of mandibular 3^rd molars. After raising similar flaps, one tooth was removed following chisel excision of a piece of distolingual bone (DLB), and the other by bur removal of buccal bone, division of the crown and roots with separate elevation (DCR). It is not stated that randomization occurred.

Baseline measurements were made 7 dys after surgery, because preoperative probing was obstructed by the impacted teeth. At 6 months, those 2^nd molars where the tooth removed was below the occlusal plane but above the CEJ showed a significant difference in mean distal probing depth (DLB: 3.6 mm; DCR: 4.5 mm) and attachment level (6.4 mm; DCR: 7.6 mm). Respective results for teeth placed apical to the CEJ were also significantly different: 4.6 and 6.1 mm; 7.1 and 9.8 mm.