SOME FACTORS RELATED TO MANDIBULAR THIRD MOLAR ERUPTION

하악제 3대구치의 맹출에 미치는 요소에 관한 연구

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors which might be related to mandibular third molar eruption and to predict the possibility of whether or not it will be erupted. The material of this study was lateral cephalometric radiograms, pantomograms and dental casts obtained from 70 patients (19 males, 51 females) ranging in age from 18.0 to 32.1 years. They were devided into erupted group and impacted group of mandibular third molars. For the comparison of each group, a total of 20 measurement items were employed and the data were analyzed by means of computer statistical method. As a result of this study, the following conclusion can be made; 1. The longer mandibular body length and narrower mandibular ramus width, the higher eruption tendency of the lower third molar, but the degree of genial angle was not related to mandibular third molar eruption. 2. The lower percentage of posterior mandibular body height to anterior mandibular body height, the higher eruption tendency of the lower third molar. 3. The total tooth size, including the lower second molar, appeared to be larger in the impacted group than in the erupted group of the lower third molar. 4. The arch length discrepancy of the impacted group was more severe in contrast with the erupted group of the lower third molar.