RESUMEN
Mandibular angle fractures have been considered attributable to the presence of unerupted third molars. We examined the relationship between the incidence of sports-related mandibular angle fractures and the presence of a mandibular third molar with emphasis on the position of the third molar. The incidence of angle fracture was significantly higher in the sports-related injury group than in the group with fracture due to other causes (P < 0.05). The incidence of angle fracture in the athletes with higher impaction scores was significantly higher than that in the subjects with higher scores who did not have sports-related fractures (P < 0.05). The percentage of rugby athletes with third molars was significantly higher than that of those without third molars (P < 0.001), and a high proportion of young athletes (89.5%) was considered to belong to a potential high-risk group for angle fractures. Our findings suggest that mandibular angle fractures are influenced by the presence and characteristics of the third molar in sports-related injuries.