Mesio-marginal findings at tilted molars. A histological-histomorphometric study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the mesio-marginal findings at tilted molars (TM) by means of histological-histomorphometric evaluation. Eight lateral tooth bone segments with TM (six mandibular, two maxillary) from males aged 20-32 years were compared with those of eight samples with non-tilted molars (NTM) in males aged 18-35 years. In comparison with the NTM samples, the TM revealed a higher amount of supra- and subgingival plaque, a significantly higher total number of inflammatory cells (P < 0.05) and blood vessels (P < 0.05) in the connective tissue adjacent to the junctional epithelium, and a lower density and corono-apical width of gingival fibres. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were found between the mesio-marginal bone level of the TM (mean: 978 μm) and that of the NTM (mean: 1222 μm). In contrast, indications were found that TM may affect the disto-marginal bone level of the mesial tooth. © 2001 Oxford University Press.