Impacted Third Molars And Risk Of Angle Fracture


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http://www.ijoms.com/article/S0901-5027(01)90215-2/pdf

T. Meisami
,
 A. Sojat
,
 G.K.B. Sàndor
,
 H.P. Lawrence
,
 C.M.L. Clokief1
f1Address: Dr Cameron ML Clokie, Head,Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Toronto, 124 Edward Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 1G6, Tel: 416 979 4922 4333; Fax: 416 979 4936; E-mail: cameron.clokie@utoronto.ca
University ofToronto, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Toronto, Canada
Accepted: December 16, 2001;
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1054/ijom.2001.0215
Article Info


Impacted thirdmolars and risk of angle fracture
The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the presence, position, and severity of impaction of the mandibular third molars, on the incidence ofmandibular angle fractures. A retrospective cohort study was designed for patients presenting to the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Toronto General Hospital (Toronto, Canada), for treatment ofmandibular fractures from January 1995 to June 2000. The independent variables in this study were the presence, position and severity of impaction of third molars. The outcome variable was the incidenceof mandibular angle fractures. Hospital charts and panoramic radiographs were used to determine and classify these variables. The demographic data included age, sex, mechanism of injury and number ofmandibular fractures. The study sample comprised 413 mandibular fractures in 214 patients. The incidence of angle fractures was found to be significantly higher in the male population and was mostcommonly seen in the third decade of life. Assault remained the most significant aetiological factor. Patients with third molars had thrice the increased risk of angle fractures when compared topatients without (P< 0.001). Impaction of third molars significantly increased the incidence of angle fractures (P<0.001). The severity and angulation of third molar impactions were not significantly...