Relation of Lower Last Molar Teeth With Mandibular Fractures.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to study and investigate the relation between the state of the lower last molar teeth eruption and the site of the mandibular fractures.

METHODS

Adult patients with traumatic mandibular fractures were included in this study. Panorama and computed tomography was performed for all patients. The relation between the state of the lower last molar eruption and criteria of the fracture was analyzed.

RESULTS

In 106 patients who had 168 mandibular fractures, impacted lower third molar teeth were found to significantly increase the incidence of mandibular angle fracture while they had nonsignificant effect on incidence of other sites of mandibular fractures.

CONCLUSION

Impacted lower third molar teeth significantly increase the incidence of mandibular angle fracture but did not have the same effect on other sites of mandibular fractures.