Morphometric analysis of occlusal groove-fossa-system in mandibular third molar

Based on serially cut 200-microns-thick sections from 21 human mandibular third molars, a quantitative characterization was made of the morphology in the mesial and distal interlobal groove. Two parameters were used: depth of interlobal groove and structure angle. The interlobal groove depth varied between 0.13 and 0.55, taken in relation to the maximum crown height. The structure angle varied between 2 degrees and 170 degrees. If the structure angle was less than or equal to 25 degrees, the interlobal groove was classified as a fissure; if the angle was greater than 25 degrees, the interlobal groove was classified as a groove. Only in 18% of the sections did the interlobal groove manifest itself as a fissure. The study demonstrates that it was possible unambiguously to describe the two-dimensional profile of interlobal grooves by groove depth and structure angle.