Third Molars and Angle Fractures

Fractures of the mandibular angle are common and mandibular third molars are frequently implicated in their pathogenesis. The study was done to investigate this cause and effect relationship. The objectives were to measure the relationship between presence and status of mandibular third molar (M3) and mandibular angle fracture. Study design was descriptive. It was carried out in the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Punjab Dental Hospital, attached with de,Montmorency College of Dentistry, Lahore. 87 patients with clinical and radiographic diagnosis of mandibular fracture formed the study group. The predictor variable was the presence or absence of mandibular third molar. The outcome variable was the presence or absence of angle fracture. Hemi mandibles containing a third molar were seen to have a 2.3 times increased risk of having an angle fracture (p = 0.49) than a hemi mandible without a third molar. A significant association between third molar depth and risk of angle fractures was seen (p = 0.001). The presence and depth of mandibular third molar is associated with an increased risk for mandibular angle fracture.