A radiographic four-year follow-up study of asymptomatic mandibular third molars in young adults

Fifty-five asymptomatic mandibular third molars (M3) in 34 dental students (mean age 20.6 years at the start of the study) were followed radiographically for 4 years. Based on clinical evaluation the 55 teeth included 20 almost erupted, 13 partly erupted and 22 non-erupted M3. The following were assessed on the radiographs: root development, level of eruption, sagittal angulation, resorption, pericoronitis/bony pockets/paradental cysts and widening of the periodontal space/dentigerous cysts. The state of 21 teeth (38 per cent) was radiographically changed at the end of the observation period. The most remarkable finding was that 15 teeth changed their sagittal angulation, all in a distal direction; five mesioangular to vertical, five vertical to distoangular, five mesioangular to distoangular. Radiographically, 13 M3 moved to a more advanced level of eruption. No real pathological osseous lesions and no root resorption were observed at initial or follow-up examinations. It is concluded that there are frequent essentially unpredictable changes in the position of M3 after the age of 19 years which may influence decisions on their removal or preservation.