Imaging Study On The Influence Of Unilateral Third Molar Elongation On Condyle Process

Objective: Based on CBCT image data,3D reconstruction of condyle was performed using Mimics Research 19.0 and Geomagic Control 2014 software,and the correlation between unilateral third molar elongation and condyle morphology and position changes was analyzed in combination with traditional 2D joint image measurement.Methods: A total of 32 patients with unilateral third molar elongation who underwent CBCT examination in the stomatology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from May 2017 to June 2022 were collected.According to the elongated side of the third molar,they were divided into elongated side group and nonelongated side group.According to the third molar elongation,they were divided into maxillary elongation group and mandibular elongation group.They were divided into three groups according to age: ≤25 years old,25-40 years old,>40 years old;They were divided into male and female groups by gender.The obtained CBCT data were imported into Mimics Research 19.0 and Geomagic Control 2014 for two-dimensional measurement and three-dimensional modeling analysis.Results: There were differences in the anterior space and the distance between condyle and median sagittal line on the extended side between different genders(P<0.01).There were differences in the distance between condyle and median sagittal line on the non-extended side(P<0.05).There was significant difference in posterior space between upper jaw and mandibular non-extended side(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in condylar surface area,volume and MI among different ages(P>0.05).There were significant differences in condylar surface area and MI index between healthy and affected side(P<0.05).Conclusion: There are some differences in bilateral condyle morphology in patients with unilateral third molar elongation,mainly in surface area and MI index.Through comparison of different groups,it is found that different genders and different maxillary positions of unilateral third molar elongation have different degrees of influence on the position of condyle or joint space.No significant difference was found on the influence of age factors on the morphological changes of condyle.