Presence of Mandibular Third Molars as a Risk Factor for Lower Anterior Crowding-A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Lower anterior crowding is a well established phenomenon, the cause of which had been debatable over the years. The cause of this could be multifunctional such as tooth size, arch form discrepancies with one of the most common causes being the third molar impactions - mesial drifting of the third molars causing lower anteriors crowding. Differential mandibular growth theory. According to this theory, when mandibular growth outpaces maxillary growth, forces from the maxillary arch and labial soft tissues cause uprighting of the mandibular incisors. This uprighting, or lingual movement, results in crowding by forcing the incisors to occupy a smaller arch perimeter. Differential mandibular growth is common in late adolescence and may continue at a slow rate into adulthood. Over the years various studies have been done, a few concluding staging the reason for lower anterior crowding, while others concluding the opposite. This study evaluated the prevalence of lower anterior crowding and its correlation with third molars. Evaluation of 537 patients with lower anterior crowding and the presence of third molars impaction. Excel tabulation was done and SPSS results were generated. The study was able to evaluate and notice that third molars were one of the most important predisposing Factors leading to lower anterior crowding. We were able to conclude from the current study that in 70.39% of the patients had lower anterior crowding due to the presence of third molars and their crowing. There was a statistically significant relationship between age of the patient with lower anterior crowding and the presence of this molar (Pearson Chi Square value-4.091a, P =0.043). Gender of the patient did not influence the association of lower anterior crowding with the presence of third molars Pearson Chi Square value-0.393a, p value- 0.531 (statistically insignificant).