ReviewJournal of maxillofacial and oral surgery2018
Third Molar and Their Relationship with Caries on the Distal Surface of Second Molar: A Meta-analysis.
Review in Journal of maxillofacial and oral surgery, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Prevalence of distal caries in second molar associated with impacted mandibular third molar and the position and level of impaction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Clinical oral investigations · 2025Pooled it
- The Role of Oxidative Stress and Total Antioxidant Capacity in the Management of Impacted Third Molars: A Narrative Review.Dentistry journal · 2026Review
- Evaluating the Indications of Surgical Extraction of Impacted Lower Third Molar in the Oral Surgery Clinic, College of Dentistry, University of Sulaimani.BioMed research international · 2026Article
- Assessment of marginal bone loss, distal caries, and external root resorption in second molars adjacent to impacted third molars: a retrospective CBCT and panoramic study.BMC oral health · 2025Article
- Exploring the Interplay of the Impaction Type of the Mandibular Third Molar With Second Molar Distal Surface Caries.International journal of dentistry · 2025Article
- Patterns of mandibular third molar impaction and its relationship with distal caries in the adjacent mandibular second molars: A retrospective study.The Saudi dental journal · 2024Article
- Radiographic Detection Rate of Distal Surface Caries in the Mandibular Second Molar in Populations with Different Third Molar Management Strategies: A Multicenter Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Article
- The Accuracy of Bone Assessment Distal to Lower Second Molars Using Panoramic Radiography: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Dentistry journal · 2024Review
- Spatial Position and Anatomical Characteristics Associated with Impacted Third Molars Using a Map-Reading Strategy on Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Scans: A Retrospective Analysis.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Relationship between the Status of Third Molars and the Occurrence of Dental and Periodontal Lesions in Adjacent Second Molars in the Polish Population: A Radiological Retrospective Observational Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2023Article
- Anatomical Positions of Mesially/Horizontally Impacted Mandibular Third Molars are Significant Predictors for Distal Caries in Adjacent Second Molars.International journal of dentistry · 2022Article
- To prophylactically extract or not to extract partially erupted mesio-angularly impacted lower third molars?British dental journal · 2021Article
- Analysis of Factors Related to Distal Proximal Caries on the Distal Surface of the Mandibular Second Molar Induced by an Impacted Mandibular Third Molar.International journal of general medicine · 2021Article
- Evaluation Distal Caries of the Second Molars in the Presence of Third Molars among Saudi Patients.Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community DentistryArticle
- The Radiological Evaluation of Mandibular Canal Related Variables in Mandibular Third Molar Region: a Retrospective Multicenter Study.Journal of oral & maxillofacial researchArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe aim of this meta-analysis was to determine which characteristics of mandibular third molars (MTMs) are more often associated with an increase in the prevalence/incidence of caries on the distal surface of mandibular second molars (MSMs).
methodsThree electronic databases were analyzed: PubMed; OVID and the Virtual Health Library. Observational studies were included, and the risk of bias was assessed using The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software program was used for meta-analysis.
resultsFifteen studies were included in this systematic review, and five were included in the meta-analysis. The distal surface of MSMs were more likely to exhibit caries in the following scenarios: when MTMs were found in the A position, rather than the C position (OR: 3.45, 95% CI: 2.28-5.22, p<0.001); when the horizontal position was compared with the vertical (OR: 8.12, 95% CI: 3.75-17.58, p<0.001) and distoangular (OR: 9.75, 95% CI: 3.49 - 27.25, p<0.001) positions; and when the mesioangular position was compared with the vertical (OR: 7.25, 95% CI: 3.48-15.10, p<0.001) and distoangular (OR: 9.54, 95% CI: 3.47 - 26.21, p<0.001) positions.
conclusionThe results of this study suggest that the presence of MTMs increases the incidence of caries on the distal surface of MSMs. Furthermore, caries on the distal surface of MSMs is more commonly associated with position A and horizontal and mesioangular mandibular molars.
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