Radiographic evaluation of third molar development in Spanish children and young people.
Third molar development was evaluated in 786 young people aged between 4 and 20 years, all patients at the School of Dentistry of the University of Granada. The development of third molars and of mandibular second premolars and second molars was determined according to the stages proposed by Nolla. The onset of mandibular third molar formation was observed at very variable ages in this series, ranging from 5.86 to 14.66 years. The first developmental stages of maxillary third molars are not usually visible radiographically, which can lead to an incorrect diagnosis of agenesis. We found no significant relationship between the gender or age of the patient and the presence or absence of third molars. However, the presence/absence of the third molar can be predicted in 82.82% of cases when there is some degree of calcification of mandibular second molars and second premolars.
Bolaños
María Victoria
MV
Department of Childhood Integrated Dentistry, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Granada, Edificio Máximo, Campus de Cartuja s/n, 18071-Granada, Spain. mbolanos@ugr.es
Moussa
Hasnae
H
Manrique
María Cinta
MC
Bolaños
Manuel Jorge
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000366:Age Determination by Teeth / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005553:Forensic Dentistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008437:Maxilla; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development*; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D013030:Spain; D014074:Tooth Calcification / Q000502:physiology; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development