Abstract
Background
the position and angulation of mandibular third molars have both been found to influence the angle and condylar fractures. Objective: To identify whether there is an association between the depth and angulation of third molar impaction and the relative risk of fracture of the mandibular angle and condyle.
Method
Four-hundred and eighty-two panoramic dental radiographs were assessed for the period from January 2012 to June 2020. The study variables included the presence of mandibular third molars, position and angulation. The outcome variables were angle and condylar fractures.
Results
the mean age was 28.5 years (range 15-89) and 93.2% (n = 499) were male. Angle fractures were significantly more frequent with an impacted wisdom tooth (M3) ( p = 0.023) whereas condylar fractures were more commonly associated with a fully erupted M3. The highest incidence of angle fractures was observed with wisdom teeth classified as class II ( p = 0.026) and position B ( p = 0.05). In contrast, class I wisdom molars were more frequently associated with condylar fractures. With regards to the angulation of wisdom teeth, angles between 80 o – 100 o were highly correlated with angle fractures ( p = 0.020) whereas M3 angulations of 60 o – 80 o were related to condylar injuries (p = 0.025).
Conclusions
fractures of the mandibular angle were significantly associated with Class II and position B wisdom teeth whereas class I third molars were associated with fracture of the condyles. The likelihood of angle and condylar fractures almost doubled when M3 angulations were (80-100) and (60-80) respectively.
A study of mandibular angle fractures caused by sports and relation to the position of the third molars.