A gel that may save the tooth next door: wisdom tooth extraction gets a preventive upgrade

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy adult patients aged 18 to 35 years old (ASA I or II). * Presence of an asymptomatic, partially or fully impacted mandibular third molar requiring surgical extraction. * The third molar impaction must be mesioangular or horizontal, with its crown in direct physical contact with the adjacent second molar, as assessed by a preoperative panoramic radiograph. * The adjacent mandibular second molar must be vital, fully erupted, and structurally sound (free of extensive dental caries or prosthetic crowns). * Patients must demonstrate an adequate level of overall oral hygiene and gingival health (e.g., Full-Mouth Plaque Index \< 20% and Full-Mouth Bleeding Score \< 20% following initial prophylaxis and oral hygiene instructions). * Willingness to comply with postoperative instructions and adhere to the scheduled follow-up visits. * Ability to understand the study procedures and voluntarily sign the informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria * Presence of systemic diseases or conditions that could compromise wound healing or periodontal health (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, autoimmune disorders). * Current or recent use of medications known to affect bone metabolism or wound healing (e.g., bisphosphonates, long-term systemic corticosteroids, immunosuppressants). * History of heavy smoking (e.g., \>10 cigarettes per day) or use of smokeless tobacco products. * Pregnant or lactating females. * Diagnosis of periodontitis (Stage II, III, or IV) affecting the remaining dentition, excluding the localized defect associated with the impacted third molar. * Presence of active acute infection (e.g., purulent pericoronitis) or radiolucent pathologic lesions extending beyond the normal follicular space (e.g., dentigerous cysts) that would significantly alter the baseline bony defect morphology. * Known allergy or hypersensitivity to any of the medications utilized in the surgical or postoperative protocol (e.g., local anesthetics, prescribed antibiotics, or analgesics). * Previous orthodontic treatment utilizing bands on the mandibular second molars that could have affected the periodontal attachment.