title: Influence of the impacted mandibular third molars on fractures of the mandibular angle and condyle - A prospective clinical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was set out to evaluate the relationship between the presence and absence of unerupted mandibular third molar and fracture of mandibular angle/condyle, and to analyse if prophylactic removal of symptom-free unerupted mandibular third molar is beneficial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hundred patients of mandible fracture were selected randomly irrespective of age, sex, caste, creed and socio-economic status. Data were collected from the patients on the basis of history, clinical examination and radiographs for the following information: age, sex, aetiology of fracture, presence and status of the mandibular third molar and location of mandible fracture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group A (partially/completely unerupted mandibular 3rd molar), the incidence of angle and condylar fracture was 44.44% and 13.33%, respectively, whereas in group B (fully erupted/missing mandibular third molar), the incidence of angle fracture was 14.45% and the incidence of condylar fractures was 31.77%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Practice of prophylactic removal of mandibular third molar and resultant strengthening of angle region should be reconsidered, as it increases the risk of fracture at condylar region which is difficult to treat and associated with more morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Dentistry, Government Medical College, Jalaun (Orai), Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Arunesh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Government Dental College, Amritsar, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Jeevan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lata
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sardar Patel Postgraduate Institute of Dental and Medical Sciences, Raebareli Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Madan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mishra
keywords: Angle fracture; Condylar fracture; Mandibular third molar