Alloplastic bone graft for pocket reduction after third molar surgery

There is high incidence of periodontal pocket formation and gingival recession on distal side of second molar after surgical removal of third molar. The periodontal pocket formation is commonly seen in mesioangular and horizontal impacted third molars. Scaling and root planning is not sufficient to reduce the distal pocket formation. In this study 20 patients requiring bilateral transalveolar mandibular third molar extractions which are mainly mesioangualar or horizontal were included after written informed consent. One side was randomly chosen as a test and the other side was the control. Commercially available alloplastic bone graft material placed in the extraction site and primary closure was obtained. The patient was called for follow up on the 1st day, 2nd day, 7th day, 3rd month & 6th after third molar surgery. The patients were evaluated for pocket depth and postoperative wound healing. Results and conclusion: There was decreased pocket depth was observed after 6 month distal to third molar. Third molar socket grafting with alloplastic graft material may be a predictable procedure to reduce the pocket formation after third molar surgery. Further follow up of present cases and larger sample size is required needed to evaluate the bone remodeling & maintenance of bone height distal to second molar. Research is required to use his bone graft material with corticocancellous bone & platelet rich plasma to evaluate osteogenic potential of the graft material.