• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.640-643
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• 2008

Distal caries of the second molar is common indication for the mandibular third molar surgery and there are no universally acceptable predictive criteria for distal caries of the second molar. To analyze the correlation of the distal caries of the second molar and the eruption state of the mandibular third molar using panoramic radiographs statistically and propose the acceptable guideline for preventive extraction of the mandibular third molar. 786 patients who were extracted the mandibular third molar from 2002 to 2006 at Samsung medical center were examined. The presence and absence of distal caries of mandibular second molar, age, gender, angulation, impaction degree, distance between distal cementoenamel junction of the second molar and mesial cementoenamel junction of the mandibular third molar were assessed. 79.6% of third molars had a mesial angulation of between $40^{\circ}$ and $80^{\circ}$. The mean age of third molar removal for distal caries of second molar was $33.86{\pm}9.81$. The prophylactic removal of a mesio-angular third molar about $40^{\circ}$ and $80^{\circ}$ could prevent distal cervical caries forming in the mandibular second molar.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2006

Mandibular fractures have higher incidence rate compared to facial bone fractures because of relatively prominent form. Specially, mandibular angle fractures were known as common fracture site because of morphological anatomic structure. The mandibular third molar appears to be the most frequent impacted tooth. The mandibular third molar have influence on mandibular angle fractures according to it's eruption state. Also, the mandibular angle fracture including the third molar may influence on post operative infection whether the third molar is in impacted or extracted state when reduction of fracture site is operated. The presence or absence and degree of impaction of the mandibular third molar were assessed for each patient and were related to the occurrence of the mandibular angle fracture. The extraction or non extraction of the mandibular third molar were related to the occurrence of the post operative infection in the reduction of mandibular angle fractures. In the presence of mandibular third molar, the possibility of mandibular angle fractures were relatively common. When viewing the mandibular third molar at occlusal plane, the possibility of mandibular angle fractures were high in the class C group. The possibility of mandibular angle fractures were high in the mesial angulation and partial impaction. There was a statistically significant difference(P<0.05). In complete erupted mandibular third molar, the possibility of post operative infection occurs quite often, but there was no statistical significant difference(P>0.05). In the extracted or non extracted of mandibular third molar, the post operative infection showed no statistical significant difference(P>0.05). With the results mentioned above, mandibular third molar was significantly more susceptible to mandibular angle fracture. In the reduction of mandibular angle fracture, it was recommended that mandibular third molar should be extracted especially in case of pericoronitis, periodontitis and other infections.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.63-67
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• 2022

Controversies exist regarding the need for prophylactic extraction of mandibular third molars in patients who plan to undergo orthognathic surgery. An 18-year-old male patient was diagnosed with mandibular prognathism and maxillary retrognathism with mild facial asymmetry. He had a severely damaged mandibular first molar and a horizontally impacted third molar. After extraction of the first molar, the second molar was protracted into the first molar space, and the third molar erupted into the posterior line of occlusion. The orthognathic surgery involved clockwise rotation of the maxillomandibular complex as well as angle shaving and chin border trimming. Patients who are missing or have damaged mandibular molars should be monitored for eruption of third molars to replace the missing posterior tooth regardless of the timing of orthognathic surgery.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.217-225
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• 2001

Any fracture passing through the socket of a teeth is compounded intraorally, even if the fracture is not displaced and the tooth is firm in its socket. Before the advent of antibiotic therapy the danger of infection in a compounded fracture posed severe problems in treatment. Infection is reduced by antibiotic therapy but prolonged use of antibiotics is not justified in an attempt to save a tooth which might eventually be sacrificed. There is still controversy in the management of third molar in mandibualr angle fracture, particulary in regard to their retention or removal at the time of fracture treatment. So we surveyed the 159 patients who were treated with open reduction of mandibular angle fracture containing third molar in fracture line, and compared with the postoperative infection rate depending on time intervals between injury and operation, eruption state of third molar, non-extraction or extraction of third molar related to eruption state, non-extraction or extraction of third molar related to condiition of third molar and its surrounding periodontium and were to propose treatment guidline of third molar in mandibular angle fracture The results obtained were as follows : 1. There were no statistical significance between the time from injury to operation and postoperative infection. 2. There were no statistical significance between eruption state of third molar and postoperative infection. 3. In case of retention of the third molar, there were no statistical significance between eruption state of third molar and postoperative infection, but in case of extraction, postoperative infection was high rate in complete impacted cases. 4. There were no statistical significance between non-extraction or extraction of third molar and postoperative infection depending on condition of third molar. There are no difference in infection rate statistically according to the time from injury to operation, eruption state and condition of third molar, but retention of third molar revealed lowered infection rate in completely impacted cases. By terms of the manegement of third molar, we should extract or preserve third molar in the line of the mandibular angle fracture according to possibility of infection.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.233-240
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• 2019

Trigeminal nerve injury as a consequence of lower third molar surgery is a notorious complication and may affect the patient in long term. Inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and lingual nerve (LN) injury result in different degree of neurosensory deficit and also other neurological symptoms. The long term effects may include persistent sensory loss, chronic pain and depression. It is crucial to understand the pathophysiology of the nerve injury from lower third molar surgery. Surgery remains the most promising treatment in moderate-to-severe nerve injuries. There are limitations in the current treatment methods and full recovery is not commonly achievable. It is better to prevent nerve injury than to treat with unpredictable results. Coronectomy has been proved to be effective in reducing IAN injury and carries minimal long-term morbidity. New technologies, like the roles of erythropoietin and stem cell therapy, are being investigated for neuroprotection and neural regeneration. Breakthroughs in basic and translational research are required to improve the clinical outcomes of the current treatment modalities of third molar surgery-related nerve injury.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2015

Objectives: We retrospectively evaluated the impact of mandibular third molars on the occurrence of angle and condyle fractures. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective investigation using patient records and radiographs. The sample set consisted of 440 patients with mandibular fractures. Eruption space, depth and angulation of the third molar were measured. Results: Of the 144 angle fracture patients, 130 patients had third molars and 14 patients did not. The ratio of angle fractures when a third molar was present (1.26 : 1) was greater than when no third molar was present (0.19 : 1; odds ratio, 6.58; P<0.001). Of the 141 condyle fractures patients, the third molar was present in 84 patients and absent in 57 patients. The ratio of condyle fractures when a third molar was present (0.56 : 1) was lower than when no third molar was present (1.90 : 1; odds ratio, 0.30; P<0.001). Conclusion: The increased ratio of angle fractures with third molars and the ratio of condyle fractures without a third molar were statistically significant. The occurrence of angle and condyle fractures was more affected by the continuity of the cortical bone at the angle than by the depth of a third molar. These results demonstrate that a third molar can be a determining factor in angle and condyle fractures.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.349-354
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• 2011

Introduction: Mandibular third molar extraction is one of the most common procedures performed in oral and maxillofacial surgery units. Although the overall complication rate is low with most complications being minor, mandibular third molar removal is so common that the population morbidity of complications might be significant. Therefore, efforts to limit intraoperative or postoperative complications might have a significant impact in terms of enhancing the patient outcome. The aims of this study were to identify the position and angulation associated complications after mandibular third molar extractions. Materials and Methods: This study surveyed 568 patients who had a mandibular third molar extracted, showed clinical complications and underwent a radiographic measurement of the available space, depth and spatial relationship. Results: The results obtained were as follows: 1. The complications were a dry socket, nerve injury, root rest, infection, bleeding, hamatoma, and adjacent teeth injury. 2. There were no significant differences between the complication and ramus relationship (available space) of the mandibular third molar. 3. There were no significant differences between the complications and depth of the mandibular third molar. 4. There were no significant differences between the complications and spatial relationship of the mandibular third molar. Conclusion: There were no significant differences in the complication rate, ramus relationship, depth and spatial relationship of the mandibular third molar. This suggests that the position and angulation of the mandibular third molar may not have an impact on the complications. The relationship between the position and angulation of the mandibular third molar, and complications deserves a further study using longitudinal data.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.161-167
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• 2006

Objectives: Pericoronitis was the most common indication for mandibular third molar surgery and there are no universally acceptable predictive criteria for pericoronitis occurrence. This study was designed to analyze the correlation of the pericoronitis and the eruption state of the mandibular third molar using panoramic radiographs statistically. Materials and Methods: 218 patients whose chief complaint was the extraction of the mandibular third molar were examined. The presence and absence of pericoronitis, age, sex, position of extraction site, angulation, impaction degree, position to the anterior border of mandibular ramus, distance between distal cementoenamel junction of second molar and mesial cementoenamel junction of the mandibular third molar were assessed. Then the correlation of pericoronitis and the eruption state of the mandibular third molar were analyzed by Student's t-test and chi-square test. Results: There was no correlation between Pericoronitis and age, sex, position of the mandibular third molar. The angulation(P=0.005), impaction degree(P=0.043), relation with anterior border of mandibular ramus(P=0.003), distance between distal cementoenamel junction of second molar and mesial cementoenamel junction of the mandibular third molar(P<0.05) were correlated with pericoronitis. Conclusions: The occurrence of the pericoronitis can be predicted by the eruption state of the mandibular third molar such as angulation, impaction degree, relation with anterior border of mandibular ramus, distance between distal cementoenamel junction of second molar and mesial cementoenamel junction of third molar.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.213-221
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• 2020

Background: Complications following impacted third molar surgery significantly affect patients' quality of life during the immediate postoperative period. This study aimed to achieve the proper anesthesia method by comparing the effect of the application of lidocaine alone with the application of lidocaine and articaine simultaneously in reducing the complications during and following impacted mandibular third molar surgery. Methods: The study design was a split-mouth double-blind randomized clinical trial. The study was conducted on 13 patients (26 samples) referred for elective surgical removal of bilateral impacted mandibular third molar with similar difficulty on both sides. Each patient underwent similar surgical procedures on two separate appointments. Each patient randomly received 2% lidocaine for conventional inferior alveolar nerve block and 4% articaine for local infiltration before the surgery on one side (group A) and 2% lidocaine alone (for both block anesthesia and infiltration) before the surgery on the other side (group B). Intraoperative and postoperative variables for both groups were established and statistically analyzed. Results: The findings showed that pain on the first day after surgery in group A was significantly lower than that in group B. The patients in group A mentioned experiencing less discomfort following the surgery. The increased horizontal swelling on the first and third days following surgery and oblique swelling on the seventh day in patients in group B were statistically significant. Conclusion: Choosing an appropriate anesthetic drug for oral surgery, specifically impacted third molar surgery, is dependent on the clinician's opinion, however; it seems that the combination of lidocaine and articaine may control the patient's pain significantly better than lidocaine alone.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.505-511
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• 2011

Purpose: This study evaluated correlation and risk factors between position of the mandibular third molars and mandibular angle fractures using clinical and radiographic findings. Methods: Medical records and panoramic radiographs of 188 patients with mandibular fractures were retrospectively reviewed. The presence and position of the third molars were assessed for each patient and were related to the occurrence of mandibular angle fractures. Results: The incidence of mandibular angle fracture was found to be greater when a lower third molar was present, particularly at the occlusal plane positioned on the $2^{nd}$ molar occlusal surface (by Archer system) and the third molar is impacted in mandibular ramus (by Pell & Gregory system). Of the 192 sites with a lower third molar, 32 (16%) had an angle fracture. Of the 184 site without lower third molars, 16 (8%) had an angle fracture. Conclusion: This study confirmed an increased risk of angle fractures in the presence of a lower third molar as well as variable risk for angle fracture, depending on positioning of the third molar.