Investigation of the periodontal status of the 2nd molar teeth after extraction of third molar teeth

Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate the long-term effects of adjacent second molars on periodontal tissues following the extraction procedure of the third molars. Material method: A total of 67 patients, 43 female and 24 male, aged between 18 and 49 were included in our study. A total of 67 teeth were examined, including 31 third molars in the maxilla and 36 third molars in the mandibula. The third molar teeth in the maxilla and mandibula were divided into two groups: impacted and erupted. In this study, the effects of adjacent second molars on the periodontal tissues following the extraction procedure of the third molars were evaluated in the 6th month and 12th month. Probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), gingival recession (GR), gingival bleeding index (GBI), gingival index (GI), and plaque index (PI) were evaluated among the clinical parameters associated with the periodontal status of the second molar tooth. The Mann Whitney U test was used to compare 2 independent groups that did not have a normal distribution. Results: After the extraction procedure of the impacted and erupted third molars in the maxilla and mandibula, no significant difference was found in the distobuccal, distolingual, and mean PPD values of the adjacent second molars within the groups (p <0.05). Although the distobuccal, distolingual, and mean GR values of the second molars were found to be significantly higher in the 0-6 months in both groups, there was no significant difference between 6 months and 12 months (p <0.05, p>0.05, respectively). In the comparison between the groups, no significant change was observed in the GR value of the second molars (p>0.05). Distobuccal, distolingual, and mean CAL values were found to be significantly higher between 0-6 months and 0-12 months (p<0.005). In the comparison between groups, there was no significant difference in the CAL value of the second molars. There was no significant change in the comparison of within-group GI values. Conclusion: In our study, it has been found that there is gingival recession and clinical attachment loss of the second molar teeth in the maxilla and mandibula between 0-6 months pursuant to the extraction procedure of the third molars in periodontally healthy individuals. For this reason, one should be careful when deciding on the extraction of third molars and the periodontal status of the patients should be carefully evaluated during the decision-making process.