RADIOGRAPHIC STUDY OF BONE LOSS OF MANDIBULAR LINGUAL CORTICAL PLATE ACCOMPANIED BY 3RD MOLAR DEVELOPMENT

Objective. The purpose was to determine the features of mandibular lin gual cortical bone loss around the root of the mandibular third molar. Study design. We examined occlusal radiographs in 2210 persons aged 1 1 to 78 years. Results. Prominent increase of incidence of bone lass w as evident in subjects in their third decade compared with those in th eir second decade. The incidence was not decreased into the sixties. T he incidence of bone loss in men was significantly higher than that in women. The incidence was not influenced by inflammation around the to oth crown of the third molar, by tooth caries, or by metal fillings pr esent in the third molar. Conclusions. The present observations sugges t that bone loss is induced by physiologic processes that accompany no t formation of the third molar after mandibular growth.