Research has been undertaken by the AAOMS to determine the risk of periodontal disease in patients who retain their third molars (wisdom teeth).

Recent studies have shown that periodontal disease is prevalent in two-thirds of young patients who retain their third molars. This is despite the fact that in many cases there are no clear symptoms. Additionally many of these cases were found to have increased pathology in other teeth as a result of the diseased third molars.

Furthermore, removal of the third molars in patients with verified pathology resulted in the overall reduction of periodontal disease and improved oral health.