Risk of periodontal defects after third molar surgery: an exercise in evidence-based clinical decision-making.

This article's purpose is to apply evidence-based principles to answer the question: What is the risk of having persistent or new periodontal defects on the distal aspect of the mandibular second molar after third molar removal? Commonly, the second molar periodontal health either remains unchanged or improves after third molar removal. Eighteen weeks or more after third molar removal, 52% to 100% of subjects had no change or improvement in attachment levels or probing depths. For subjects with healthy second molar periodontium preoperatively, the indication for third molar removal should be evaluated carefully because these patients have an increased risk for worsening of probing depths or attachment levels after third molar removal.