Victor de Mello Palma1,2,3, Cristiane Cademartori Danesi1,2, Cristiane Frantz Arend4, Andressa Borin Venturini2,4, Diego Segatto Blaya5, Marcos Martins Neto5, Jorge Abel Flores5, Kivia Linhares Ferrazzo1. 1. 1Department of Pathology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS Brazil. 2. 2Graduate Program in Dental Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS Brazil. 3. 5Post-Graduate Program in Pathology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Av. Roraima, 1000, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900 Brazil. 4. 3Master Program in Dental Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS Brazil. 5. 4Department of Stomatology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS Brazil.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The prophylactic extraction of third molars is a common practice in dental offices, but divergent opinions are found in the literature regarding the indication of this procedure. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of pathological changes associated with the pericoronal tissue of asymptomatic impacted third molars that could justify prophylactic extraction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in which 109 pericoronal tissues with no radiographic evidence of pathology were histopathologically analyzed. The specimens were fixed in 10% formalin, embedded in paraffin, stained with hematoxylin and eosin and analyzed individually by two pathologists. RESULT: The frequency of inflammatory infiltrate in the dental follicle of patients older than 20 years of age was significantly higher than that of younger patients (p = 0.004), demonstrating an association between inflammation in the dental follicle and patient age. The occurrence of squamous metaplasia was also greater in patients older than 20 years (p = 0.042), demonstrating that the prevalence of squamous metaplasia increases with age. A significant association was also found between inflammation and squamous metaplasia (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Pathological changes may be present in the dental follicle of impacted third molars even in the absence of clinical or radiographic signs of disease.
BACKGROUND: The prophylactic extraction of third molars is a common practice in dental offices, but divergent opinions are found in the literature regarding the indication of this procedure. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of pathological changes associated with the pericoronal tissue of asymptomatic impacted third molars that could justify prophylactic extraction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in which 109 pericoronal tissues with no radiographic evidence of pathology were histopathologically analyzed. The specimens were fixed in 10% formalin, embedded in paraffin, stained with hematoxylin and eosin and analyzed individually by two pathologists. RESULT: The frequency of inflammatory infiltrate in the dental follicle of patients older than 20 years of age was significantly higher than that of younger patients (p = 0.004), demonstrating an association between inflammation in the dental follicle and patient age. The occurrence of squamous metaplasia was also greater in patients older than 20 years (p = 0.042), demonstrating that the prevalence of squamous metaplasia increases with age. A significant association was also found between inflammation and squamous metaplasia (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Pathological changes may be present in the dental follicle of impacted third molars even in the absence of clinical or radiographic signs of disease.
Entities:
Keywords:
Dental sac; Pathology; Third molar; Tooth extraction
Authors: Victor Coutinho Bastos; Jéssica Gardone Vitório; Roberta Rayra Martins-Chaves; Flávia Leite-Lima; Yuri Abner Rocha Lebron; Victor Rezende Moreira; Filipe Fideles Duarte-Andrade; Thaís Dos Santos Fontes Pereira; Lucilaine Valéria de Souza Santos; Liséte Celina Lange; Adriana Nori de Macedo; Gisele André Baptista Canuto; Carolina Cavaliéri Gomes; Ricardo Santiago Gomez Journal: Front Oral Health Date: 2021-06-18