The fifty mandibular second molars(which were extracted) were selected, and the alveolar bone surface following root separation angle of the selected teeth were evaluated.

The results were obtained as follows;

1. The root separation angle of fifty mandibular second molars were divided into three groups. The first group(10-20°) was made up of ten teeth, the second group(20-30°) was made up of fifteen teeth, and the third group(30-40°) was made up of twenty-five teeth.

2. The mean root separation angle was 28.1°. The mean alveolar bone rate on the mesial surface of the mesial root was 44.27%, on the distal surface of the mesial root was 36.52%, on the mesial surface of the distal root was 33.45%, and on the distal surface of the distal root was 25.28%.

3. The mean alveolar bone rate on the distal surface of the mesial root, which composed the root separation area, was 32.95% in the first group, 36.06% in the second group, and 38.22% in the third group. The mean alveolar bone rate in the mesial surface of the distal root was 31.40% in the first group, 31.93% in the second group, and 35.18% in the third group.

4. The positive correlation was found between the root separation angle and the alveolar bone rate in the root separation area.(P<0.05)

Although the mandibular second molar is a very important tooth in the oral cavity, its treatment and diagnosis is very difficult due to the variation of its root form. When periodontal disease involves the mandibular second molar, the result of this study assists in its treatment and diagnosis.