Evaluation of the association between magnesium depletion score and wound healing following the extraction of lower impacted third molars: a prospective observational cohort study

AIM: To evaluate the association between the Magnesium Depletion Score (MDS) and post-extraction soft tissue healing (STH) following lower impacted third molar (LITM) extraction in a medically healthy population. METHODS: This prospective observational cohort study was conducted at a single center. For standardization, only teeth that met predefined criteria were included. All participants were healthy, non-smoking adults undergoing single-tooth extraction. MDS was calculated pre-operatively. The Inflammatory Proliferative Remodelling (IPR) index was used to assess STH on days 4 and 14 and at week 6. RESULTS: A total of 111 participants (68 females, 43 males; mean age 36.5 ± 18.2 years) were included. Total IPR scores ranged from 6 to 16, while MDS ranged from 0 to 2 due to the absence of alcohol consumption. No significant associations were observed between MDS and sex (p = 0.265), or between MDS and IPR outcomes (both subscale and total scores; p = 0.348, p = 0.667, p = 0.569, and p = 0.179, respectively). In contrast, age was significantly associated with MDS (p = 0.02). IPR subscale and total scores were not significantly associated with sex (p = 0.679, p = 0.294, p = 0.296, and p = 0.179, respectively), age (p = 0.407, p = 0.770, p = 0.293, and p = 0.105, respectively), or serum magnesium levels (p = 0.221, p = 0.453, p = 0.880, p = 0.315, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: No significant association was observed between MDS and STH, suggesting a limited predictive value in this population of healthy, alcohol-absent individuals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov under the identifier NCT06891846 on 02-04-2025.