Impacted Mandibular 3rd Molars Research Articles

The effect of alloplastic bone graft and absorbable gelatin sponge in prevention of periodontal defects on the distal aspect of mandibular second molars, after surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar: a comparative prospective study.

Recent studies claim that haemostatic agents can be used as bone graft substitutes. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of alloplastic bone graft with absorbable gelatin sponge in prevention of periodontal defects distal to mandibular second molar after the surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. A prospective, randomized, single-blind split-mouth study was designed. The study consisted of 25 patients requiring surgical removal of bilateral impacted mandibular 3rd molars. The surgical sites were randomly divided into 2 groups: group I: G-graft (hydroxyapatite+collagen, study group) and group II: Abgel (absorbable gelatin sponge, control group). Patients were recalled on lst and 7th postoperative days and 3rd and 6th postoperative months. Probing depth, alveolar bone levels and soft tissue wound healing were evaluated. Paired t test was used to compare pre and post-operative alveolar bone levels and probing depth (PD). Wilcoxon signed ranks test was used to compare the wound healing. The soft tissue wound healing, PD and the distance between the cemento-enamel junction on the distal aspect of mandibular second molar (point A) and the alveolar crest on the distal aspect of the same tooth (point B) were significantly higher in group I as compared to group II. This study reveals an increase in the alveolar bone level, improvement of PD and better wound healing in group I. Group II subjects required longer healing time than the normal. The authors disagree the claim that the haemostatic agents can be used as bone graft substitutes. However, long-term, multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trials are required.

Is Pederson Index a True Predictive Difficulty Index for Impacted Mandibular Third Molar Surgery? A Meta-analysis

The aim of this meta-analysis was to find out the clinical reliability of Pederson index in assessing the difficulty of surgery for impacted mandibular 3rd molar. The relevant articles were selected by Hand search and electronic media (Medline, Pubmed, Embase Cochrane library, ISI web of science) from Jan 2000 to Dec 2010. All the relevant articles were properly screened and findings were extracted from the articles. Pederson index had shown low sensitivity and specificity in predicting the difficulty of surgery for impacted mandibular 3rd molar. Positive and negative likelihood ratio had also shown the unreliability of Pederson index. The meta-analysis of the current literature concluded that Pederson index is not a reliable test to predict the surgical difficulty of impacted mandibular 3rd molar.

Ultrasonic piezotome surgery: is it a benefit for our patients and does it extend surgery time? A retrospective comparative study on the removal of 100 impacted mandibular 3rd molars

Aim of the study was to evaluate if there is a constant and significant reduction in traumaticity when mas- sively traumatic oral surgical procedures such as the removal of third molars are conducted with only ul- trasonic surgical devices (Piezotomes) expressed in a reduction of postsurgical pain and swelling on the patient’s side since such clinical experiences by the authors suggested this. Since oral surgeons criticize a higher time consumption for surgeries with Piezoto- mes also the objective time consumption was evalu- ated and compared to the traditional methods. Mate- rial and Methods: 56 female and male patients were selected that already underwent a removal of an im- pacted third mandibular molar on one side with rota- ry instruments by bone destructive burring with a still persisting comparable third mandibular molar on the contralateral side complaining about recur- rent pain episodes and were already documented for pain and swelling before. The ultrasonic surgical re- moval with the Piezotome was conducted with a buc- cal osteotomy of the compacta lateral to the impacted third molar, preservation of the resected compacta in saline solution, removal of the third molar by single or multiple dentotomy and full anatomical restitution of the surgical site with the preserved buccal com- pacta. The swelling was documented by kephalome- try 24/48/72 hours and 1 week post surgery, the pain index by the total consumption of ibuprofen-400 mg—tablets. Lesions of the mandible nerve were documented. Netto surgery time was taken from the first incision to the last suture of the procedure. Re-sults: 6 patients had to be excluded from evaluation due to incomplete post surgical follow up. A signify-cant (***, p > 0.999) decrease in pain and swelling of 50% was detected both for the parameters swelling and pain with Piezotome-surgery. No lesions of the mandible nerve were detected with Piezotome sur- gery whereas surgery with rotary instruments re- sulted in 16% hypesthesia at least up to one week. Although netto surgery time was approximately 50% longer when done with the Piezotome at the begin-ning the time consumption normalized with the growing experience of the surgeons back to the time schedule when surgery was performed with rotary instruments revealing no significant differences (-, p < 0.73). Conclusions: The results of this retrospective study suggest that Piezotome-surgery is superior in atraumaticity and soft-tissue safety compared to tra- ditional procedures with burs and grants the patients significantly less post surgical pain and swelling. Al- though—as it is with all new surgical tools and pro- tocols—surgery time is longer at the beginning when purely working with ultrasonic surgical devices time consumption reduces to normal values after a learn- ing curve.

Ameloblastoma after surgical removal of an impacted mandibular molar: A case report

A case of an ameloblastoma diagnosed about 3 1/2 years after removal of an impacted mandibular 3rd molar is presented. The pre-operative radio-graphs, though poor in quality, showed an ill-defined radiolucency in relation to the tooth. This feature was not apparent to the examiners at the time of first presentation. Despite unfavourable working conditions in developing countries, a high level of suspicion should be maintained to avoid serious sequelae at a later stage.

The fate of impacted lower third molars after the age of 20. A four-year clinical follow-up

Seventy dental students (mean age: 20 years) with 130 asymptomatic, non-ectopic, impacted mandibular 3rd molars were followed for 4 years. At the initial visit 26 were impacted in soft tissue, 30 were partially impacted in bone, and 74 were completely impacted in bone. The following items were registered at each visit: regional pocket depths, signs and symptoms of pathology, degree of impaction, presence of upper 3rd molar. No signs or symptoms of pathology were observed in any of the subjects at the 2 visits. The 4-year visit revealed that 49 3rd molars had been removed, the reason being pericoronitis or caries in 30%, mild symptoms in 39% and for prophylactic reasons in 31%. Of the remaining 81 3rd molars: 71% of the soft tissue impactions, 25% of partial bony impactions, and 8% of complete bony impactions showed complete and normal eruption. The remaining 3rd molars were either static or had advanced in the degree of eruption. It is concluded that non-ectopic, impacted 3rd molars in the given age group may have a chance to completely erupt. The treatment for asymptomatic impacted 3rd molars in young adults, therefore, might be observation instead of prophylactic removal.