Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026

Adjunctive Diode Laser Therapy and Probiotic Lactobacillus Therapy in the Treatment of Periodontitis and Peri-Implant Disease
Published on: May 9, 2022
Removal of symptomatic third molars may improve periodontal status of remaining dentition
Carolyn Dicus-Brookes1, Maura Partrick, George H Blakey
1Chief Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
Purpose:
To assess the impact of third molar removal on the periodontal status of adjacent second molars and teeth more anterior in the mouth in patients with mild symptoms of pericoronitis.
Patients And Methods:
Healthy patients with mild symptoms of pericoronitis affecting at least 1 mandibular third molar were recruited for a study approved by the institutional review board. The subset analyzed in this study had all 4 third molars removed. Data were collected at enrollment and at least 3 months after surgery. Full-mouth periodontal probing was conducted at 6 sites per tooth. A probing depth of at least 4 mm (PD4+) was considered an indicator for periodontal pathology. The presence of a PD4+ on the distal of second molars (D2Ms) or anterior to the D2Ms, the number of PD4+s, and extent scores (percentage of PD4+s of all possible probing sites) were assessed at the patient and jaw levels. The association between patients' pre- and postsurgical periodontal status was assessed using the McNemar exact test. The level of significance was set at .05.
Results:
The median age of the 69 patients was 21.8 years (interquartile range, 20.2 to 25.2 yr). Forty-five percent were men, and 57% were Caucasian. Significantly more patients (88%) had at least 1 D2M PD4+ at enrollment compared with after surgery (46%; P < .01). D2M extent scores decreased from 31.5 at enrollment to 11 after surgery. Significantly more patients (61%) had at least 1 PD4+ anterior to the D2M at enrollment compared with after surgery (29%; P < .01). Extent scores anterior to the D2M decreased from 2.0 at enrollment to 0.6 after surgery.
Conclusions:
Removal of third molars in patients with mild pericoronitis symptoms improved the periodontal status of the D2Ms and teeth more anterior in the mouth.
Related Concept Videos
Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
The Oral Microbiota
Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.
Tonsillitis II: Management
Chronic Pharyngitis
Etiology
It often arises from persistent viral or bacterial infections affecting sinuses and tonsils.
Additional contributing factors include inadequate dental hygiene, mouth breathing, recurring tonsillitis, allergic rhinitis, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and exposure to smoke, chemicals, and other environmental pollutants. Allergic reactions to pollen, mold, and pet dander, chronic cough, excessive voice usage,...
Mitral Stenosis III: Medical Management