Relationships between mandibular angle fracture and state of the lower third molar

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate mandibular third molars as risk factors for angle fracture in a patient sample with fractured mandible. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records and panoramic radiographs of 107 patients with mandibular fractures were examined. The presence and absence and degree of impaction of the lower third molar were assessed for each patient and related to the occurrence of fracture of the mandibular angle. Data were also collected for age, sex and mechanism of injury. Data were analyzed by a chisquare statistics and Student t test. RESULT: The incidence of mandibular angle fracture was found to be significantly greater when a lower third molar was present(p < 0.05) especially at class III state.(p < 0.05)(by Pell and Gregory system) Of the 78 patients with a lower third molar, 46(58.97%) had angle fractures. Of the 29 without a lower third molar, 24(82.76%) had not angle fractures. CONCLUSION: The result of this study showed that the mandibular angle that have a lower third molar is more susceptible to fracture when exposed to an impact than an angle without an lower third molar.