Lower third molars (M3M) are the most frequent impacted teeth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between M3M position and gonial angle. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted. The study population included patients with unilateral or bilateral M3M and underwent Cone Beam Computed Tomography. A morphometric analysis of the mandible was performed after three-dimensional reconstruction, recording gonial angle (GA), ramus high, ramus width, ramus divergency, and retromolar space. GA was the primary predictor variable. The primary outcome variable was the position of M3M analyzed in sagittal, axial, and coronal planes. Descriptive, bivariate, and multiple regression statistics were performed (p < 0.05). Study sample included 172 patients (mean age: 26.3 ± 4.6 years); 266 M3Ms were analyzed. The average GA was 122.6° ± 4.8°. A reduced GA value was significantly associated with a deeply impacted M3M in the ramus. With a progressive decrease of GA, M3M assumed a more horizontal position closer to the mandibular canal (p < 0.05). A lower GA showed a reduced retromolar space with more complex impacted M3M (p < 0.05). The results confirm a statistically significant correlation between GA and the position of M3M. Higher incidence of impacted M3M was related to a reduction of the GA value.

Background: The perception of facial aesthetics is a complex topic due to its subjective nature and it can be influenced by several factors. The purpose of this study was to compare the perception of general dentists, orthodontists, maxillofacial surgeons, and lay people by evaluating facial aesthetics in skeletal class III patients, especially for maxillary sagittal position. Methods: A survey consisting of three sets of pre-treatment photographs of four dysmorphic patients was used. The questionnaire was submitted to a total of 200 participants divided into the following four subgroups: general dentists, orthodontists, maxillofacial surgeons, and lay people. Their opinion on facial disharmony, sagittal position of the jaws, asymmetry of the chin, projection of the cheekbone area, and lip aesthetics was recorded. Results: Significant differences were found between experts and non-experts in the perception of the maxillary position, asymmetry of the chin and zygomatic area (p < 0.01). No statistically significant differences were found among the groups in the perception of mandibular position and lip aesthetics. Conclusion: The respondents with a medical or dental background perceived the presence of maxillary retrusion more than others. Only orthodontists and maxillofacial surgeons have recognized an alteration of the middle facial third as a greater component of skeletal class III malocclusion.