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Radiographic study of mandibular third molars: evaluation of the position and root anatomy in Brazilian population

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Abstract

Objectives

The root anatomy and position of mandibular third molars are important factors in assessing the level of difficulty of surgical removal procedures. In this light, this study aims to identify the most frequent position and the root anatomy of mandibular third molars.

Methods

The study sample comprised 1205 mandibular third molars from 710 panoramic radiographs evaluated. Regarding the position, all of them were based on Pell and Gregory’s and Winter’s classifications. The root anatomy was classified according to the type and number of roots, as well as the presence of laceration, fusion, or divergence. Gender and the quadrant were also considered. Following an interexaminer analysis, a statistical analysis was performed using the Kappa test.

Results

The results showed that the IA (40.3%) and mesioangular (53.8%) position was predominant in mandibular third molars. Regarding the anatomy, the most common were two roots (98.3%), of the conical simple type (88.9%), with absence of laceration (89.2%), divergence (84%), and fusion (80%).

Conclusion

The present study showed that the most prevalent mandibular third molar type in Brazilian patients was the IA and mesioangular position, with simple root anatomy. The result of this study can assist oral surgeons to better plan and assess the level of difficulty of surgical removal procedures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Odontology, UFC, Federal of University Ceará, Campus Sobral, Rua Coronel Estanislau Frota, Centro, Sobral, Ceará, 62010-560, Brazil

    Marcelo Bonifácio da Silva Sampieri

  2. UFC, Fortaleza, Brazil

    Francisca Lívia Parente Viana

  3. USC, Bauru, Brazil

    Camila Lopes Cardoso

  4. Department of Stomatology, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil

    Márcia Ferreira Vasconcelos, Maria Helena Ferreira Vasconcelos & Eduardo Sanches Gonçales

Authors
  1. Marcelo Bonifácio da Silva Sampieri
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  2. Francisca Lívia Parente Viana
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  3. Camila Lopes Cardoso
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  4. Márcia Ferreira Vasconcelos
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  5. Maria Helena Ferreira Vasconcelos
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  6. Eduardo Sanches Gonçales
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Correspondence to Marcelo Bonifácio da Silva Sampieri.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and animal rights

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional Bauru School of Dentistry research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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For this type of study formal consent is not required.

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da Silva Sampieri, M.B., Viana, F.L.P., Cardoso, C.L. et al. Radiographic study of mandibular third molars: evaluation of the position and root anatomy in Brazilian population. Oral Maxillofac Surg 22, 163–168 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10006-018-0685-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10006-018-0685-y

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