The Presence of Visible Third Molars Negatively Influences Periodontal Outcomes: The Population Study NHANES 2009-10

Thursday, October 10, 2013: 7:40 AM
Elda Fisher DMD, MD, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Kevin L Moss , NC Oral Health Institute, UNC School of Dentistry, Durham, NC
Steven Offenbacher DDS, PhD, MMSc, NC Oral Health Institute, UNC School of Dentistry, Durham, NC
Ray White DDS, PhD, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill, NC
The Presence of Visible Third Molars Negatively Influences Periodontal Outcomes: The Population Study NHANES 2009-10

Fisher E, Moss K, Offenbacher S, White R

ABSTRACT

Statement of the Problem: Assess the relationship between the presence or absence of visible 3rd molars and outcomes for periodontal inflammatory disease in a study of the US population, NHANES 2009-10.

Materials and Methods: Periodontal data, probing at six sites each tooth excluding 3rd molars, were obtained in an IRB approved study from 3,700 adults 30 years of age and older, an NHANES 2009-10 survey sample representative of 65 million US adults. Visible presence or absence of 3rd molars was noted clinically only; the principal predictor variables. No radiographs were available.

Method of Data Analysis: The principal outcome variables were the subject level periodontal status of 1st/2nd molars: mean periodontal probing depths (PD), mean attachment levels (AL). For subjects stratified by decade of age, outcomes by the presence or absence of 3rd molars were compared with Chi square statistics. Significance was set at P<0.05.

 Results: Subjects were more likely to have at least one visible 3rd molar in the youngest age cohort of 30-39 years, 51%, as compared to each successive age cohort. By ages 70-79 only 22% had at least one visible 3rd molar. No reasons for missing 3rd molars were recorded. If at least one 3rd molar was visible mean PDs, 2.6 (SD 0.7), and mean ALs, 2.2 (SD 1.3), were significantly greater across all ages as compared to no visible 3rd molar detected, mean PDs 1.9 (SD 0.6) and mean ALs, 2.0 (SD1.3),P<0.01.

These same significant differences were detected when stratified by age groups from ages 30 through 69.

Conclusion: If at least one visible 3rd molar was detected in subjects in a US population study (NHANES 2009-10) as compared to no detected 3rd molars periodontal outcomes were significantly worse.

References:

Elter JR, Cuomo C, Slade GD, Offenbacher S, White RP Jr: Relationship of third molars to periodontal health in NHANES III. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 62:440, 2004

Eke PI, Dye BA, Wei L, Thornton Evans GO, Genco RJ: Prevalence of periodontitis in adults in the United States: 2009 and 2010. J Dent Res 91:914, 2012

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