Purpose: This study was conducted to analyze the clinical impact of risk markers for third molar and non-third molar periodontal pathology over time.
Patients and methods: Data were obtained from healthy adults with 4 asymptomatic third molars in an institutional review board-approved trial. Full-mouth periodontal probing depth (PD) data were collected as clinical measures of possible periodontal pathology. The third molar region included the 6 third molar probing sites and the 2 second molar distal probing sites (maximum of 16 sites per jaw). The non-third molar region included all remaining probing sites (maximum of 80 sites per jaw). Periodontal PDs were considered indicator variables for clinically detected periodontal pathology or its absence at baseline and follow-up. Subjects were grouped based on all PD less than 4 mm (no disease), 1 to 3 PD >or=4 mm (incipient disease), or at least 4 PD >or=4 mm (early disease). Levels of periodontal pathogens and gingival crevicular fluid inflammatory mediators at baseline also were assayed as risk markers for periodontal pathology. Baseline risk markers and possible confounding variables were included in risk assessment models to derive odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for periodontal pathology in the third molar and non-third molar regions at follow-up.
Results: A total of 195 subjects had a median follow-up of 5.9 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 4.6 to 6.9 years). Median age at enrollment was 26.2 years (IQR = 22 to 34 years); 52% were female, 84% were Caucasian, and 10% were African-American. A significant association was found between baseline and follow-up third molar region and non-third molar region periodontal pathology indicators (P < .01). Subjects who had incipient or early disease in the third molar region at baseline were significantly more likely to have an indication of periodontal pathology at follow-up in the third molar region and in the non-third molar region compared with those in whom no disease was detected at baseline.
Conclusions: In young adults, the presence of periodontal pathology as indicated by periodontal PDs in the third molar region at baseline was predictive of detection of periodontal pathology in the third molar and non-third molar regions at follow-up.