[On eruption of mandibular third molar after extraction of mandibular first or second molar]

In the orthodontic practice, the first or second molars are extracted by reason of a necessity based on the treatment planning. In these cases, it is desirable that the third molar would be taken part in the masticatory function. This study was made to investigate the natural movement of the erupting third molars after the extraction of the first or second molar on the serial lateral cephalometric radiographs and orthopantomographs. Subjects were divided into three groups. The first is the group which the mandibular second molars were extracted. The second is the group which the first molars were extracted bringing about the successful eruption of the third molars. The third is the group which the first molars were extracted with resultant in the failure of the third molar eruption. In all cases, the orthodontic forces were not applied to the third molars. The results were as follows: 1. In the first group, all third molars were successfully erupted and a lot of the spaces after the extraction of second molars were utilized for the eruption of third molars. 2. In the second group, all third molars were successfully erupted and a lot of the spaces after the extraction of first molars were utilized for the mesial movement of the second molars. 3. In the third group, there were various patterns of the impaction of the third molars. It was suggested that the eruption of the third molar was related to the space distal to the second molar but it was not related to the anterio-posterior length of the mandibular body significantly.