The resective treatment in mandibular Degree III furcation areas includes root resection and tunnel preparation. The purpose of this retrospective study is to evaluate which treatment procedure(root resection vs tunnel preparation) has more favorable prognosis in mandibular Degree III furcation involvement.

The subjects of this study were patients who were treated their mandibular posteriors with either root resection(22 teeth on 22 patients) or tunnel preparation(24 teeth on 22 patients) and have participated in periodic recall check program for at least 2 years. Failure rate, plaque index, bleeding on probing and probing pocket depth were measured and the results were compared and statistically analysed.

Failure rates of root resection and tunnel praparation were 13.6% and 16.7%, respectively, and showed no significant difference between two procedures. No significant differences were observed between two procedures with respect to plaque index, bleeding on probing and probing pocket depth.

root resection and tunnel preparation are both effective procedures to treat mandibular posterior furcation involvement, if adequate treatment of choice is made and patient's cooperation is accompanied. However, tunnel preparation is more preservative procedure in mandibular posterior furcation involvement since root canal treatment and prosthetic restoration are needed additionally, in case of root resection.