Mechanical Debridement of Subgingival Biofilm in Participants With Asymptomatic Third Molars Does Not Reduce Deeper Probing Depths in the Molar Regions of the Mouth

Purpose: To assess the impact of mechanical debridement of subgingival biofilm on periodontal outcomes in adolescents and young adults with asymptomatic third molars. Methods: Healthy participants with 4 asymptomatic third molars were enrolled in an institutional review board-approved longitudinal study. Clinical data were collected at enrollment and at follow-up visits. Full-mouth periodontal probing, 6 sites per tooth, was assessed as a measure of clinical periodontal status. At enrollment, all participants had dental prophylaxis after data collection, which included removal of subgingival biofilm; this was repeated annually. The primary outcome measures were the comparison from baseline to follow-up 2 years after enrollment of participants' periodontal probing depths for third molars and first/second molars. In addition, a comparison of extent scores at baseline to follow-up 2 years after enrollment for periodontal probing sites of at least 4 mm was performed for the same molar regions of the mouth. Changes over time in clinical periodontal status from enrollment to the follow-up at least 2 years later were analyzed with Mantel-Haenszel row mean score statistics. The level of significance was set at P < .05. Results: The median follow-up from entry to the study was 2.2 years (interquartile range, 2.0-2.8 years) for 262 participants who averaged 27.7 years of age (SD, 1.2 years); 53% were female participants, and 81% were white. Most participants (90%) were educated beyond high school. On the basis of periodontal probing depths, participants' clinical periodontal status did not differ from enrollment to follow-up. Conclusions: Dental prophylaxis at yearly intervals in participants with asymptomatic third molars, which included mechanical removal of subgingival biofilm, had minimal or no impact on reducing deeper probing depths, clinical indicators of periodontal pathology in young adults. (C) 2013 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons J Oral Maxillofac Surg 71:467-474, 2013