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Furcation-involved molar teeth - part 1: prevalence, classification and assessment

Abstract

Furcation-involved molars are a common presentation in general dental practice. Teeth with increasing degrees of furcation involvement are at a higher risk of requiring extraction. The assessment and management of these teeth may be complicated by difficulties in accessing the furcation for both the clinician and patient. However, with appropriate supportive therapy, these teeth have been shown to have acceptable survival rates. This first article reviews and discusses the classification, assessment and the non-surgical management of furcation-involved molar teeth. An improved understanding of how to appropriately manage these teeth can result in improved outcomes for patients.

Key points

  • The presence of a furcation involvement will considerably increase the risk of tooth loss, whether patients are undergoing supportive periodontal care or not.

  • Professional mechanical plaque removal of the furcation region of a molar is challenging, often owing to the discrepancy between a narrow furcation entrance and the width of the instruments available for treatment.

  • Both the horizontal and vertical components of a furcation involvement should be considered and classified according to sub-categories, as this can help to assess the tooth's prognosis.

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Acknowledgements

To Dr Kitichai Janaphan for providing clinical cases for this publication.

Funding

Thomas Gill and Priya Bahal are National Institute for Health and Care Research-funded academic clinical fellows.

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Thomas Gill and Priya Bahal contributed to design, article writing and approval of the article. Luigi Nibali contributed to review of the article.

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Correspondence to Thomas Gill.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Gill, T., Bahal, P. & Nibali, L. Furcation-involved molar teeth - part 1: prevalence, classification and assessment. Br Dent J 233, 847–852 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-5202-x

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