The Hidden Perils of Wisdom Teeth: Safeguarding Periodontal Health

Abstract

Third molar, which is well known as wisdom tooth. It usually erupts at the age of 18 – 24 yrs, but sometimes it is not able to erupt at the occlusal level of its adjacent teeth either obstructed by any tooth or bone or due to any malalignment. It has the greatest incidence of developmental anomalies and the eruption sequence is also last. So, most of the oral surgeons recommended that it should be removed to avoid any problems later in life, which is called “prophylactic removal”. Though extraction is considered as the treatment of choice, certain periodontal problems are also associated with the extraction of the 3rd molar like; increasing pocket depth and bleeding around the first and second molars. Despite this, the retaining 3rd molar can also create periodontal pathology with the adjacent 2nd molar tooth. So, while making the clinical decision, it’s very necessary to assess the periodontal condition. So based on these above objectives, this review paper has been discussed.