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Updated: Apr 16, 2026
A Morphometric and Cellular Analysis Method for the Murine Mandibular Condyle
Published on: January 11, 2018
Relationship between mandibular condyle and angle fractures and the presence of mandibular third molars
Deuk-Hyun Mah1, Su-Gwan Kim1, Seong-Yong Moon1
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
Objectives:
We retrospectively evaluated the impact of mandibular third molars on the occurrence of angle and condyle fractures.
Materials And Methods:
This was a retrospective investigation using patient records and radiographs. The sample set consisted of 440 patients with mandibular fractures. Eruption space, depth and angulation of the third molar were measured.
Results:
Of the 144 angle fracture patients, 130 patients had third molars and 14 patients did not. The ratio of angle fractures when a third molar was present (1.26 : 1) was greater than when no third molar was present (0.19 : 1; odds ratio, 6.58; P<0.001). Of the 141 condyle fractures patients, the third molar was present in 84 patients and absent in 57 patients. The ratio of condyle fractures when a third molar was present (0.56 : 1) was lower than when no third molar was present (1.90 : 1; odds ratio, 0.30; P<0.001).
Conclusion:
The increased ratio of angle fractures with third molars and the ratio of condyle fractures without a third molar were statistically significant. The occurrence of angle and condyle fractures was more affected by the continuity of the cortical bone at the angle than by the depth of a third molar. These results demonstrate that a third molar can be a determining factor in angle and condyle fractures.
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