title: Morphodigital study of bone quality in the mandibular angle in patients with third molar impacted.
abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze if the presence of impacted third molars, and their positions in the mandibular angle, can change the bone quality in this area, considering the measure of the cortical thickness in this region as representative or not for mandible fracture risk. Software was used to analyze 50 digital images from panoramic radiographs of patients who had one or two impacted third molars in the mandible, and 30 digital images of patients with agenesis of the mandibular third molar. The thickness of the cortical region of the mandible was measured; it was possible to draw a parallel line to the posterior portion of the mandible and a parallel line to the body of this bone on each side of the image. At the intersection of these lines near the distal portion of the second molar, another line was set up to serve as reference in the cortical thickness measurement. It could be concluded that the cortical thickness of the mandibular angle in male patients without impacted third molars was greater than the thickness in patients with these teeth, and no difference in thickness was found for the female group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Stomathology and Physiology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Avenida do Café S/N, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14040-904, Brazil.
authors.forename: Plauto Christopher Aranha
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Maria Beatriz Carrazzone Cal
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Solange Aparecida Caldeira
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tiossi
authors.forename: João Paulo Mardegan
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Issa