• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the anatomic circle around the impacted lower third molar to show, document, and correlate essential findings that should be included in the routine radiographic assessment protocol as clinically meaningful factors in overall case evaluation and treatment planning. Materials and Methods: Cone-beam computed tomographic images of impacted lower third molars were selected according to specific inclusion criteria. Impacted teeth were classified according to their position before assessment. The adjacent second molars were assessed for distal caries, distal bone loss, and root resorption. The fourth finding was the presence of a retromolar canal distal to the impaction. Communication with the dentist responsible for each case was done to determine whether these findings were detected or undetected by them before communication. Results: Statistically significant correlations were found between impaction position, distal bone loss, and detected distal caries associated with the adjacent second molar. The greatest percentage of undetected findings was found in the evaluation of distal bone status, followed by missed detection of the retromolar canal. Conclusion: The radiographic assessment protocol for impacted third molars should consider a step-by-step evaluation for second molars, and clinicians should be aware of the high prevalence of second molar affection in horizontal and mesioangular impactions. They also should search for the retromolar canal due to its associated clinical considerations.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 2021

Background: Impacted mandibular third molar removal is one of the most commonly performed oral surgical procedures. This procedure can lead to several postoperative complications, such as trismus, facial swelling, and pain, which occur as a result of the inflammatory responses to surgery. This study compared the efficiency of preoperative injections of 4 mg versus 8 mg dexamethasone into the pterygomandibular space to reduce postoperative sequelae. Methods: This was a randomized, prospective, split-mouth, controlled study, including 52 mandibular third molar surgeries in 26 patients. Each patient was randomized to either the 4 mg or 8 mg dexamethasone injection group. Dexamethasone was injected into the pterygomandibular space after numbness from local anesthesia. Data were collected for trismus, facial swelling, visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, and the number of analgesics taken during the evaluation period. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Statistically significant differences in postoperative facial swelling (P = 0.031, diff = 1.4 mm) and pain (P = 0.012, diff = 0.020) were found between the 8 mg and 4 mg dexamethasone groups. However, there were no significant differences between the groups for trismus and the total number of analgesics consumed (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Compared to the 4 mg preoperative dexamethasone injection, the 8 mg preoperative dexamethasone injection into the pterygomandibular space was more effective in reducing postoperative swelling and pain following the surgical removal of the impacted mandibular third molar. However, the difference in trismus could not be evaluated clinically. Therefore, the recommendation of administering the 4 mg dexamethasone preoperative injection is optimal in the third molar surgical procedure.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.23 no.1 s.40
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• pp.47-55
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• 1993

This study was designed to recognize the factors which can affect the normal eruption of the lower third molar and the eruption rate of the lower third molar in the cases of non-extraction and the extraction of first premolar. The sample consisted of 214 cases of extraction of first premolar and 119 cases of non-extraction, and all of these cases were divided into erupted and impacted lower third molar groups and were analized according to the pantomogram. The results of the study were as follows : 1. The eruption rate of the touter third molar was $54.67\%$ in the group of extraction of the first premolar and $35.29\%$ in the non-extraction group. 2. The early inclination of the erupting lower third molar has significant effect in the eruption of it. 3. In the orthodontic treatment, the extraction of first premolar is one of the factors infuencing the nomal eruption of lower third molar. 4. The available space for the normal enruption of lower third molar was greater in first premolar extraction case than in non-extraction case.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.37 no.2 s.357
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• pp.126-130
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• 1999

Forty healty patients (15 males and 25 females) between 19 and 45 years of age with mandibular impacted third molar were selected for this tudy. A visual analog scale from 0 to 100 was used on the day of the procedure and on the first postoperative day for patient pain assessment. 1. In comparative study according to anesthesia, preoperative medication, depth of impacted teeth and gender, there were a variable range of pain and no significant differences statistically. 2. Intraoperative pain was the highest in the 2nd decade and first postoperative pain was the highest in the 3rd decade (P=0.0398) 3. Intraoperative and postoperative pain of operative duration below 10 minutes were the lower than that between 11 to 20 minutes (P=0.0398)

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 1981

The author examined 515 full mouth roentgenograms stored in the Dept. of Oral Radiology, College of Dentistry, Seoul National University. For evaluating the efficiency of the routine full mouth roentgenogram, each of abnormal conditions such as impacted teeth, missing, caries, crown, filling and apical lesions was observed. The results obtained were as follows; 1. Among 14.420 teeth examined, missing teeth were 174, impacted 16, caries 161 and treated 1,162. 2. The incidence of impacted third molar was close to 18.7 percent and the incidence of missing third molar was about 33.4 percent. 3. Among carious and treated teeth, 178 teeth (1.2%) were needed observation of root apex. And of these teeth, 119 teeth 0.8% were observed with apical lesion. 4. There is a considerable relation between the incidence or size of apical lesion and the accuracy of endodontical treat. 5. Among the teeth with apical lesion, upper and lower first molars were most frequent (about 41%), upper and lower canine were rare (about 1.7%).

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.137-141
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• 2011

The extraction of an impacted third molar tooth is associated with many complications during the procedure and postoperative care. These complications include bleeding, swelling, pain, infection, as well as root fracture, proximal tooth injury, alveolar bone fracture, lingual nerve and inferior alveolar nerve injury etc. With the exception of a fractured root dislocation in the submandibular space, no direct submandibular gland injury related to extraction surgery has been reported until now. A 40 year old man visited the department of oromaxillofacial surgery at Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital for an extraction of the right mandible third molar. A partial third molar impaction was diagnosed by a clinical and radiographic examination. A surgical tooth extraction was practiced including buccal cortical bone osteotomy. During socket curettage, an encapsulated cyst-like lesion and a verified $3{\times}3\;cm$ neoplasm in the apically lingual direction were found during process of dissection. A biopsy confirmed that the neoplasm involved the submandibular gland and nerve trunk. This unusual anatomical organ injury during the surgical tooth extraction procedure is reported as a new complication during impacted third molar extraction.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.121-127
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• 2012

Purpose: This study evaluated the association between cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and panoramic radiographs in the assessment of a superimposed relationship between the mandibular canal and impacted third molars. Materials and Methods: The study samples consisted of 175 impacted third molars from 131 patients who showed a superimposed relationship between the mandibular canal and third molars on panoramic radiographs and were referred for the examination of the mandibular canal with CBCT. Panoramic images were evaluated for the darkening of the root and the interruption of the mandibular canal wall. CBCT images were used to assess the buccolingual position of the mandibular canal relative to the third molar, the proximity of the roots to the canal, and lingual cortical bone loss. The association of the panoramic and CBCT findings was examined using a Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Results: Panoramic radiographic signs were statistically associated with CBCT findings (P<0.01). In cases of darkening roots, lingual cortical bone loss or buccally positioned canals were more frequent. In cases in which the mandibular canal wall was interrupted on panoramic radiographs, contact or lingually positioned canals were more frequent. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that contact between the mandibular third molar and canal and a lingually positioned canal could be more frequently observed in cases of the interruption of the white line of the mandibular canal and that there could be more lingual cortical loss in cases of darkening roots.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.303-312
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigated the prevalence of developmental and acquired pathologic conditions associated with impacted third molars (3Ms) in a Southern Brazilian population and evaluated whether demographic and tooth characteristics were correlated with the presence of bone or tooth lesions. Materials and Methods: Panoramic radiographs were assessed for developmental (bone-related) or acquired (tooth-related) pathoses associated with impacted upper or lower 3Ms. Data on tooth positioning, tooth development, and patient demographics were collected. A trained, calibrated postgraduate student evaluated all images. Binary and multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess associations between outcomes and the demographic and radiographic variables. The threshold for statistical significance was set at 5% (P<0.05). Results: The sample comprised panoramic radiographs from 2054 patients, predominantly female (59.2%), with a mean age of 27.2±11.5 years. Overall, 4066 impacted 3Ms were evaluated, revealing 471 (11.6%) developmental and 710 (17.5%) acquired pathoses. Among the developmental pathoses, 460 (95.2%) were indicative of dentigerous cysts. Male sex, lower 3M location, vertical or distoangular positioning, and incomplete root formation were associated with an elevated likelihood of developmental pathology. Lower tooth position, complete root formation, and partial eruption were linked to an increased probability of an acquired pathology in the third or second molar. Conclusion: The prevalence of pathologic conditions associated with impacted 3Ms was low. Male sex, lower 3M placement, horizontal or distoangular positioning, and incomplete root formation were associated with developmental pathoses, while lower tooth position, complete root formation, and partial eruption were related to acquired pathoses.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.121-128
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• 2015

Background: The authors studied the hemodynamic effect influent by using the novel high concentration of lidocaine HCl for surgical removal impacted lower third molar. The objective of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic change when using different concentrations of lidocaine in impacted lower third molar surgery. Methods: Split mouth single blind study comprising 31 healthy patients with a mean age of 23 years (range 19-33 years). Subjects had symmetrically impacted lower third molars as observed on panoramic radiograph. Each participant required 2 surgical interventions by the same surgeon with a 3-week washout period washout period. The participants were alternately assigned one of two types of local anesthetic (left or right) for the first surgery, then the other type of anesthetic for the second surgery. One solution was 4% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine and the other was 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine. A standard IANB with 1.8 ml volume was used. Any requirement for additional anesthetic and patient pain intra-operation was recorded. Post-operatively, patient was instructed to fill in the patient report form for any adverse effect and local anesthetic preference in terms of intra-operative pain. This form was collected at the seven day follow up appointment. Results: In the 4% lidocaine group, the heart rate increased during the first minute post-injection (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant change in arterial blood pressure during the operation. In the 2% lidocaine group, there was a significant increase in arterial blood pressure and heart rate in the first minute following injection for every procedure. When the hemodynamic changes in each group were compared, the 4% lidocaine group had significantly lower arterial blood pressure compared to the 2% lidocaine group following injection. Post-operatively, no adverse effects were observed by the operator and patient in either local anesthetic group. Patients reported less pain intra-operation in the 4% lidocaine group compared with the 2% lidocaine group (P < .05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that a 4% concentration of lidocaine HCl with 1:100,000 epinephrine has better clinical efficacy than 2% lidocaine HCl with 1:100,000 epinephrine when used for surgical extraction of lower third molars. Neither drug had any clinical adverse effects.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.309-315
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of the existing classification and difficulty index of impacted mandibular third molars in clinical situations and propose a more practical classification system. Materials and Methods: This study included 204 impacted mandibular third molars in 154 patients; panoramic x-ray images were obtained before tooth extraction. Factors including age, sex, and pattern of impaction were investigated. All impacted third molars were classified and scored for spatial relationship (1-5 points), depth (1-4 points), and ramus relationship (1-3 points). All variables were measured twice by the same observer at a minimum interval of one month. Finally, the difficulty index was defined based on the total points scored as slightly difficult (3-4 points), moderately difficult (5-7 points), very difficult (8-10 points), and extremely difficult (11-12 points). Results: The strength of agreement of the total points scored and difficulty index were 0.855 and 0.746, respectively. Most cases were classified as moderately difficult (73.0%). Although only 13 out of 204 cases (6.4%) were classified as extremely difficult, patients classified as extremely difficult were the oldest (P<0.05). Conclusion: For difficulty classification, the authors propose one more difficult category beyond the existing three-step difficulty index: the clinician should consider the patient's age in the difficulty index evaluation.