OBJECTIVES: We retrospectively evaluated the impact of mandibular third molars on the occurrence of angle and condyle fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective investigation using patient records and radiographs. The sample set consisted of 440 patients with mandibular fractures. Eruption space, depth and angulation of the third molar were measured. RESULTS: Of the 144 angle fracture patients, 130 patients had third molars and 14 patients did not. The ratio of angle fractures when a third molar was present (1.26 : 1) was greater than when no third molar was present (0.19 : 1; odds ratio, 6.58; P<0.001). Of the 141 condyle fractures patients, the third molar was present in 84 patients and absent in 57 patients. The ratio of condyle fractures when a third molar was present (0.56 : 1) was lower than when no third molar was present (1.90 : 1; odds ratio, 0.30; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The increased ratio of angle fractures with third molars and the ratio of condyle fractures without a third molar were statistically significant. The occurrence of angle and condyle fractures was more affected by the continuity of the cortical bone at the angle than by the depth of a third molar. These results demonstrate that a third molar can be a determining factor in angle and condyle fractures.
Fractures, Bone ; Humans ; Mandibular Condyle* ; Mandibular Fractures ; Molar, Third* ; Odds Ratio ; Retrospective Studies ; Tooth

Drainage ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Maxillary Sinus ; Maxillary Sinusitis ; Membranes ; Mouth ; Osseointegration ; Otolaryngology ; Transplants

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to compare the postoperative stability of conventional orthognathic surgery to a surgery-first orthognathic approach after bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (BSSRO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 20 patients who underwent BSSRO for skeletal class III conventional orthognathic surgery and 20 patients who underwent a surgery-first orthognathic approach. Serial lateral cephalograms were analyzed to identify skeletal changes before surgery (T0), immediately after surgery (T1), and after surgery (T2, after 1 year or at debonding). RESULTS: The amount of relapse of the mandible in the conventional orthognathic surgery group from T1 to T2 was 2.23±0.92 mm (P<0.01) forward movement and −0.87±0.57 mm (non-significant, NS) upward movement on the basis of point B and 2.54±1.37 mm (P<0.01) forward movement and −1.18±0.79 mm (NS) upward movement on the basis of the pogonion (Pog) point. The relapse amount of the mandible in the surgery-first orthognathic approach group from T1 to T2 was 3.49±1.71 mm (P<0.01) forward movement and −1.78±0.81 mm (P<0.01) upward movement on the basis of the point B and 4.11±1.93 mm (P<0.01) forward movement and −2.40±0.98 mm (P<0.01) upward movement on the basis of the Pog. CONCLUSION: The greater horizontal and vertical relapse may appear because of counter-clockwise rotation of the mandible in surgery-first orthognathic approach. Therefore, careful planning and skeletal stability should be considered in orthognathic surgery.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Mandible ; Orthognathic Surgery* ; Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus* ; Prognathism ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: To establish the relationship between serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) concentration and age in a community-based population without clinically evident prostate cancer, a population based screening study was performed in a rural area in Southern Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1999 to December 1999, 1,278 volunteer men aged from 40 to 89 years in Namhae, Korea participated in a clinical examination that included a serum PSA determination (TANDEM-R assay), digital rectal examination and transrectal ultrasonography. The subjects who had clinical evidence of prostate cancer and high PSA concentration (>10ng/ml) were excluded. The PSA levels were compared with age using Pearson correlation and linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The serum PSA concentration correlated with patient age (r=0.129, p=0.001). The observed 95th percentile increased from 1.37ng/ml for subjects in the 40's to 6.18ng/ml for subjects in the 80'2. The reference range for serum PSA (95 percentile) for men in the 40's was 0.24 to 1.37ng/ml; for 50 to 59 years, 0.27 to 2.68ng/ml; for 60 to 69 years, 0.25 to 4.00ng/ml; for 70 to 79 years, 0.29 to 4.55ng/ml; and for 80 to 89 years, 0.31 to 6.18ng/ml. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that the serum PSA concentration directly correlated with patient age (Pearson correlation coefficient=0.129, P=0.001). Thus, rather than relying on a single reference range regardless of different age groups, it may be more appropriate to have age-specific reference ranges. Our data were lower than that of the Western data, and could provide an adjunctive information in interpreting PSA data in Korean men, especially in the elderly population.
Aged ; Digital Rectal Examination ; Humans ; Korea ; Linear Models ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen* ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Reference Values* ; Ultrasonography ; Volunteers