Frequency of Mandibular 3rd Molar Presence and Position on Risk of Mandibular Angle Fracture

Objective of study was to determine the frequency of mandibular third molar presence and position in mandibular angle fractures. Study Design: Cross Sectional Study Setting: This study was carried out in department of dentistry, Nishtar institute of dentistry, Multan. Duration of Study: This study was conducted from 1st July 2016 to 31st January 2017. Methadology: Study was started after taking informed consent from the patients and approval of ethical committee. Fracture side was diagnosed by history and examination. Status of mandibular third molar (erupted, un-erupted and impacted) on the side of fracture was evaluated through clinical and radio-graphical examination. Data was collected for basic demographics (Age, Sex and side of fracture).Patients from both gender with age range of 25-40 years having mandibular angle fracture of any side of < one month duration were included in this study. Patients with history of extraction of mandibular third molar and those with history of fracture from gunshot injury were excluded from the study.Data was collected for mandibular third molar presence and position and noted in especially designed proforma. Results: A total of 158 patients of both gender with mandibular angle fracture of any side were included. Age range in this study was from 25 to 40 years with mean age of 32.689 ± 3.28 years, mean height 1.612 ± 0.04 meters, mean BMI 23.929 ± 2.08 Kg/m2 and mean duration of fracture was 11.354 ± 6.08 days. Majority of the patients (55.7%) belongs to 25-33 years age groups. While males were 90.5% as compare to females 9.5%. UnErupted Mandibular third molar was seen in 12.7% patients, Erupted 44.3% and Impacted was 43%. Conclusion: Conclusion of this study is that the absence of an impacted third molar decrease the prevalence of mandibular angle fractures. Keywords: Mandibular angle fractures, Mandibular third molar, Frequency. DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/60-07 Publication date:October 31st 201