Dental injuries in association with mandibular condyle fractures

A total of 356 patients with mandibular condyle fractures were studied regarding associated dental injuries. One third of the patients had injured teeth, on average, 3.7 teeth had been injured per accident. Dental traumas were distributed equally between the anterior (incisors and canines) and posterior teeth (premolars and molars) in both jaws. In unilateral condylar fracture cases maxillary dental injuries involved more often premolars and/or molars of the fracture side than those of the nonfracture side. The mean number of dental traumas in the mandible was higher in cases of simultaneous mandibular body fracture than without, whereas the presence of mandibular body fracture did not affect number of associated dental injuries in the maxilla. The dental injuries were mostly to hard tissue (78%), which were commonest in men, 20 to 29 years of age, and in victims of violence or fall accidents. Severe dental injuries in association with mandibular condyle fractures were more common in accidents due to traffic and miscellaneous causes than in those due to violence. Severe dental injuries were more often encountered when simultaneous mandibular body fracture was present than when it was not and more so in bilateral than unilateral condylar fracture cases. The most important factor correlating with the severity of dental injuries was the presence of bilateral condylar fracture.