Evaluation of the follicular space volume of lower third molars with different impaction positions and angulations: A cone-beam computed tomography and histopathological study.

Objective: To quantify the volume of the follicular spaces of impacted lower third molars (ILTMs) with different impaction positions and angulations using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to determine its association with the histopathological findings. Study design: This study included 103 ILTMs of 33 men and 70 women aged 18-46 years (mean age, 29.18 years). The follicular space volumes were measured on CBCT by manual segmentation and correlated with the histopathological diagnosis of each ILTM having different impaction positions and angulations. Statistical Product and Service Solutions, version 24, was used for statistical analyses by applying the t-test and binary logistic regression and multiple linear regression tests (p < 0.05). Results: Overall, 83 (80.6%) dental follicles presented a non-pathological diagnosis (mean follicular volume, 0.10 cm3), whereas 20 (19.4%) presented a pathological diagnosis (mean follicular volume, 0.32 cm3; p = 0.001). Similarly, the impaction depth in Position C cases was associated with a pathological diagnosis (p = 0.010). Conclusion: The follicular volume of the ILTMs varied significantly in teeth with a histopathological diagnosis of a follicular cyst and was associated with the impaction depth, mainly in Position C cases, and its relationship with the mandibular ramus. A mean follicular volume of 0.32 cm3 was associated with a greater probability of a pathological diagnosis.

Tridimensional assessment of the dental follicle dimensions of impacted mandibular third molars using cone-beam CT.

BACKGROUND: The present study was performed to compare follicle dimensions of impacted mandibular third molar (IMTM) with different impaction angulations using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-nine individuals with IMTM (24 male, 25 female) were selected. Their age range was 25-55 years. The sample was divided into three IMTM groups either vertical (n=16), mesioangular (n=18) or horizontal (n=15) position based on Winter's classification (the angle between the longitudinal axis of the second and third molars). Follicular spaces (FS) from available CBCT imaging were measured from the midpoint of the teeth's crown in several dimensions (mesial, distal, occlusal, apical, vestibular and lingual) in axial, sagittal and coronal planes. An ANOVA, T-student, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used. RESULTS: A comparison of the mesial FS for all groups revealed significant differences (p<0.001). Significant difference was also found for vestibular FS between the vertical and mesioangular IMTM groups (p=0.04). Buccolingual FS for all groups revealed no significant differences (p=0.074), whereas significant difference was found for the vertical and horizontal IMTM groups (p=0.02). No significant statistical differences were found for occlusal (p=0.54), apical (p=0.06), and lingual (p=0.64) FS. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample IMTM follicles have different dimensions according to their degree of angulation. Mesioagulated and horizontally positioned IMTMs seems to consistently have some increased FS dimensions (mesial and vestibular aspects). Key words:Dental follicle, impacted tooth, third molar, cone-beam computed tomography.