%0 Journal Article
%T A study of the correlation between second molar distal caries and third molar eruption
%A Maria LAZARIDOU
%A Vagia GALITSIOU
%A Chrisa DIVANIDOU
%A Ioannis TILAVERIDIS
%J Hellenic Archives of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
%D 2012
%I Hellenic Association for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
%X This study aims to analyse the correlation parameters between second molar distal caries and third molar eruption. Materials and methods: 73 cases of patients who had their third impacted or semi-impacted molars removed,were studied; they were retrieved from the archive of a private practice. The following parameters were evaluated:patients¡¯ gender, second molars distal caries,angulation, impaction plane and mesio-distal distance between the third and second molars. Results: Of the 73 cases that were studied, 21 involved second molar distal caries (28.8%), while in 52 cases the second molars were free of caries (71.2%). Within the first group, 66.6% of the cases involved third molar distal angulation of 41¡ã-60¡ã and 61¡ã-80¡ã, with type A impaction planes in 86% and the mesio-distal distance ranging between 10 ¨C 12 mm in 52.4%. Conclusion: Erupting third morals need to be prophylactically extracted if there is a significant risk of developing caries in adjacent second molars.
%K impacted third molars
%K second molars
%K caries
%K eruption status
%U http://www.haoms.org/haomsjournal/2012teyxos3_article4.pdf