Evaluation Distal Caries of the Second Molars in the Presence of Third Molars among Saudi Patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of distal caries in second permanent molars in the presence of third molar among patients attending university dental clinics in Riyadh City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Materials And Methods: Clinical and radiographic data (orthopantomographs and right and left bite wings) from 313 patients attending Riyadh Elm University dental clinics, department of oral diagnosis were collected and analyzed for the presence of third molars and caries on the distal surface of the second molar. Descriptive statistics of frequency distribution, mean and standard deviation, and binary logistic regression analysis were applied to assess the association between distal surface caries on second molars and impaction status of the teeth.

Results: The mean decayed, missing, and filled teeth score of the study participants was found to be very high, that is, 23. The prevalence of caries affecting the distal aspect of the second molar was 48.6% ( = 609) in the population. The prevalence of distal caries was significantly high in patients with fully erupted wisdom teeth followed by vertical, horizontal, and mesial impacted third molars ( < 0.05). Wisdom teeth with mesioangular, vertical, and horizontal impactions showed significant association with distal caries of second molars below the contact point, whereas, fully erupted and vertically impacted wisdom teeth showed significant association with distal surface caries of second molars above contact point. Similarly, vertically impacted wisdom teeth were found to have significant association with caries of distal surface of second molars on noncontact areas ( < 0.05).

Conclusion: This study showed that the distal surface of the second molars is at risk of caries in the presence of third molars. However, this risk depends on eruption status, type of angulation, and contact between third and second molars. All the preventive measures should be taken to avoid caries on distal surface of second molar.