The impaction of mandibular third molars, commonly known as wisdom teeth, can lead to various dental pathologies. Among these, distal caries in the adjacent second molar is a significant concern.
A recent study investigated the prevalence of distal caries in the mandibular second molar adjacent to mesioangular or horizontally partially erupted mandibular third molars. The study examined how factors such as decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) risk group, age, side (left-right), and sex influence this prevalence.
The research included patients scheduled for surgery to remove mesioangular or horizontally positioned partially erupted mandibular third molars. Prior to surgery, several data points were recorded: DMFT score, age, sex, and the side of impaction (left or right). Post-extraction, the second molar was clinically examined for signs of distal caries. The objective was to determine the prevalence of these caries and their correlation with the aforementioned factors.
Results
The study encompassed 514 patients and involved 639 teeth in total. Key findings include:
- Sex: Men showed a significantly higher propensity for developing distal caries in the second molar compared to women.
- DMFT Risk Group: Patients categorized in moderate- or high-risk DMFT groups were more likely to develop distal caries.
- Age: There was no statistically significant relationship between age groups and the prevalence of distal caries.
- Side (Left-Right): Similarly, no significant difference was found concerning which side (left or right) was impacted.
These results highlight specific demographics that are more vulnerable to second molar distal caries when adjacent to impacted mandibular third molars.
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