title: Relationship between the presence of unerupted mandibular third molars and fractures of the mandibular condyle.
abstract: Previous studies have shown that the presence of unerupted mandibular third molars predisposes the mandible to angle fractures. This study attempted to relate the presence of unerupted mandibular third molars with the incidence of condyle fractures. The authors compared the proportion of fractures in 439 patients who had unerupted third molars or no unerupted third molars. Fractures at the condylar region showed a significantly higher incidence in patients without unerupted third molars than in those patients with unerupted third molars. This study provides solid clinical evidence to suggest that the removal of unerupted mandibular third molars predisposes the mandible to condyle fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University (Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Sciences), Wonju Chirstian Hospital, 162 Ilsang-Dong, Wonju, Kangwon-Do, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: S-J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: B-H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: W-S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: J-Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: J-H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: B-Y
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: S-H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000293:injuries*; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000209:etiology*; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014097:Tooth, Unerupted / Q000601:surgery*