Search

Third molars are the teeth with the highest variation of shape, size, number and position. Fifty five molars were extracted from patients of Temuco, Chile, which were classified by age, gender and location jaw. The following parameters were measured: vestibular-palatine diameter (VP), mesial-distal (MD) diameter, coronary height (C-O), root length and total length. Additionally, number of roots and cusps were quantified for each molar identifying those with abnormal molar shape. The data were statistically analyzed and tabulated. The results showed that upper molars have higher total length than lower ones, predominating those with a one fused root. Regarding to crown shape, there was a predominance of tricuspid shape prevailing V-P diameter for upper third molars and tetracuspid for lower, noting M-D diameter. Coronary length was higher for upper molars, but root length was higher for lower molars than upper ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]