Romanian Journal of Oral Rehabilitation Numarul 1 THIRD MAXILLARY MOLAR ASSESSMENT USING ORTHOPANTOMOGRAPHY

THIRD MAXILLARY MOLAR ASSESSMENT USING ORTHOPANTOMOGRAPHY

Loredana Golovcencu, Daniela Anistoroaei, Iulia Catalina Saveanu,Vasilica Toma, Georgeta Zegan

ABSTRACT

Aim of the study.  The aim of this study was to assess the third maxillary molar status, its eruption prognosis and to evaluate possible correlations between posterior available space and angulation. Material and methods. We examined panoramic radiographs of 250 orthodontic patients, aged between 11 and 25 years, mean age 13,96 and we measured the mesiodistal diameter, the available posterior space distal to second molar and upper third molar angulation with the occlusal plane and with the adjacent tooth. Results. 75 (15%) third upper molars were congenitally missing; considering the available space we found a considerable increase in those patients with previous first molar extraction compared with the group without extractions; there is no or very weak correlation between posterior space and third molar angulation ( p>0,05), but strong inverse proportionally correlation between the angle formed by the long axis of the second and third molar and the angle of the third molar with the occlusal plane ( p=0,0002).Conclusions. Third maxillary molar potential of eruption depends in many cases by the type of orthodontic treatment and there is no correlation between the posterior space and third molar angulation.

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