• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.207-213
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• 1998

Purpose : This study attempted to relate the incidence of fractures at the mandibular angle with the presence and state of eruption of lower third molars, and to find out the real risk factors for angle fractures in the states of lower third molars. Materials and Methods : Medical records and radiographs of 395 patients with mandibular fractures were retrospectively reviewed. The presence and states of third molars were assessed for each patients and related to the occurrence of angle and other mandibular fractures. Results : Of 395 patients with mandibular fractures, 142 had angle fractures. The incidence of angle fractures was found to be significantly greater when partial erupted lower third molars were present and it had a definite role for risk factors for angle fractures. But there were no clear relationship between the incidence of angle fracrtures and states of without, fully erupted lower third molars. Furthermore, the states of patial and unerupted lower third molar had an effect on bony segment displacement. Conclusions : This study provides clinical evidence to suggest that patial erupted third molar teeth weaken the mandibular angle both quantitatively and qualitatively.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.39
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• pp.29.1-29.5
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• 2017

Background: The surgical extraction of the third molar is the most frequently encountered procedure in oral and maxillofacial surgery and is related with a variety of complications. This study examined the efficacy of intentional partial odontectomy (IPO) in the third molars which have no periapical lesions and are located near important anatomical structures such as inferior alveolar nerve. Methods: Seven patients (four males, three females, $39.1{\pm}11.6years$), who received IPO to reduce the risk of inferior alveolar nerve injury (IANI), were followed long-term. The treated teeth were horizontally impacted third molars in the mandibular left (n = 5) or mandibular right (n = 4) areas and were all ankylosed with the surrounding alveolar bone. During the IPO, the bone around the crown was removed to expose the crown, and then the tooth was resected at cement-enamel junction (CEJ). Any secondary trauma to the healthy root was minimized and remained intact after primary suture. Results: The mean follow-up time was $63.2{\pm}29.8months$, and all sites showed good bone healing after the crown removal. Also, sensory abnormality was not found in any patients after IPO. In one patient, the bone fragments erupted 4 months after IPO. In other patient, an implant placed on second molar site adjacent to the third molar that received IPO was explanted about 2 years after the patient's persistent discomfort. Conclusions: In case where high risk of IANI exists, IPO may be chosen alternatively to surgical extraction to reduce the risk of nerve damage.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2006

Mandibular fractures have higher incidence rate compared to facial bone fractures because of relatively prominent form. Specially, mandibular angle fractures were known as common fracture site because of morphological anatomic structure. The mandibular third molar appears to be the most frequent impacted tooth. The mandibular third molar have influence on mandibular angle fractures according to it's eruption state. Also, the mandibular angle fracture including the third molar may influence on post operative infection whether the third molar is in impacted or extracted state when reduction of fracture site is operated. The presence or absence and degree of impaction of the mandibular third molar were assessed for each patient and were related to the occurrence of the mandibular angle fracture. The extraction or non extraction of the mandibular third molar were related to the occurrence of the post operative infection in the reduction of mandibular angle fractures. In the presence of mandibular third molar, the possibility of mandibular angle fractures were relatively common. When viewing the mandibular third molar at occlusal plane, the possibility of mandibular angle fractures were high in the class C group. The possibility of mandibular angle fractures were high in the mesial angulation and partial impaction. There was a statistically significant difference(P<0.05). In complete erupted mandibular third molar, the possibility of post operative infection occurs quite often, but there was no statistical significant difference(P>0.05). In the extracted or non extracted of mandibular third molar, the post operative infection showed no statistical significant difference(P>0.05). With the results mentioned above, mandibular third molar was significantly more susceptible to mandibular angle fracture. In the reduction of mandibular angle fracture, it was recommended that mandibular third molar should be extracted especially in case of pericoronitis, periodontitis and other infections.