Influence of orthodontic treatment with first premolar extraction on the angulation of the mandibular third molar.

Objectives: To evaluate the influence of orthodontic treatment that involved first premolars extraction on the angulation of the developing mandibular third molars, and whether this will result in an improvement in it's path of eruption during tooth development.

Methods: A cross-sectional radiographic study was conducted using 80 panoramic radiographs of 40 orthodontic patients previously treated at the College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The sample consisted of 2 groups, extraction and non-extraction orthodontic therapy group with equal number of patients in each group.