Evaluation of the Relationship Between Sagittal Anomalies and the Presence of Third Molars in Two Different Periods in Turkish Orthodontic Patients

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the existence of third molar germs in orthodontic patients in Turkey, to examine the correlation between the existence of third molars and sagittal maxillomandibular jaw relationships and to compare the presence of third molars in individuals born in the 1970s and 1990s. The subjects were of450patients attending the orthodontic clinic Dicle University aged younger than 15 years. The subjects were divided into two groups: Group 1, consisted of 150 patients (50 males and 100 females) born between 1975 and 1979, and group 2 300 patients (124 males and 176 females) born between 1990 and 1997. Assessments were made from panoramic radiographs and lateral cephalograms. The chi square test was used to determine statistically significant differences. The following results were obtained: (1) all four third molar germs were present in 71.5 percent of subjects, (2) a non-significant decrease was determined in the level of third molars present in individuals group 2. (p>0.05) (3) mandibular third molars were present significantly more often than maxillary third molars (p<0.001), (4) no statistically significant difference was found among the prevalences of third molars in all Angle classifications in the sagittal plane (p>0.05) and (5) the percentage of skeletal Class II subjects who had all four third molars was higher than that of skeletal Class III subjects.

Keywords:

• Third molar germs
• Sagittal anomalies
• Third molars absence