this study included 25 patients of both sexes with mandibular fractures in the age group of 18 - 48 years , presenting no medical contra indications for the planned procedure . data collected from the patients included pre and postoperative panoramic radiographs , age at the time of injury , sex , and site of madibular fracture . the sites of fractures in the mandible consisted symphysis , parasymphysis , body , and angle and excluded condylar fractures , all of which were treated with open reduction and internal fixation with conventional stainless steel miniplates ( 2 and 2.5 mm , 4 and 6 holes plates ) . the patients were clinically and radiologically evaluated during preoperative , immediate postoperative , 6 weeks postoperative and during regular follow - ups . all the patients were administered intravenous ampicillin 500 mg , metronidazole 400 mg , and intramuscular diclofenac sodium 50 mg postoperatively , which varied between 5 and 7 days . the following clinical parameters were used : 
 mobility of the tooth involved in the fracturevitality of the tooth involved in the fracture . mobility of the tooth involved in the fracture vitality of the tooth involved in the fracture . the following radiological parameter was used : 
 teeth stabilizing the fracture segment . 
  teeth stabilizing the fracture segment the anatomic location of mandibular fractures was 80% in the angle region and 20% in the parasymphysis region . 10 patients had grade ii and 10 patients had grade i mobility of the teeth in the line of fractures [ graph 1 ] . pre - operative mobility totally , 15 patients with teeth in the line of fracture showed no response to cold pulp testing ( nonvital ) preoperatively . rest 10 patients showed positive response for cold pulp testing ( vital ) [ graph 2 ] . 13 patients with their teeth in the line of fracture showed positive response ( vital ) and 12 patients showed no response to cold pulp testing during 1 week postoperative follow - up [ graph 3 ] . pre - operative vitality 1st week post - operative vitality sixteen patients with teeth in the line of fracture showed positive response to cold pulp testing during the 6 week postoperative follow - up . there was a significant improvement in the vitality of the teeth in the line of fracture during the 6 week postoperative evaluation . the rest 9 patients with their teeth in the line of fracture showed no response to the cold test ( nonvital ) [ graph 4 ] . 6th week post - operative vitality twenty patients panoramic radiographs showed minimally displaced fractures due to the presence of teeth in the line of fractures . in 5 patients , the panoramic radiographs showed displaced fractures due to the fully erupted grade iii mobile teeth [ graph 5 ] . 10 patients had grade ii and 10 patients had grade i mobility of the teeth in the line of fractures [ graph 1 ] . totally , 15 patients with teeth in the line of fracture showed no response to cold pulp testing ( nonvital ) preoperatively . rest 10 patients showed positive response for cold pulp testing ( vital ) [ graph 2 ] . 13 patients with their teeth in the line of fracture showed positive response ( vital ) and 12 patients showed no response to cold pulp testing during 1 week postoperative follow - up [ graph 3 ] . pre - operative vitality 1st week post - operative vitality sixteen patients with teeth in the line of fracture showed positive response to cold pulp testing during the 6 week postoperative follow - up . there was a significant improvement in the vitality of the teeth in the line of fracture during the 6 week postoperative evaluation . the rest 9 patients with their teeth in the line of fracture showed no response to the cold test ( nonvital ) [ graph 4 ] . twenty patients panoramic radiographs showed minimally displaced fractures due to the presence of teeth in the line of fractures . in 5 patients , the panoramic radiographs showed displaced fractures due to the fully erupted grade iii mobile teeth [ graph 5 ] . some studies have demonstrated that it is really common to observe teeth in the line of fractures . others authors mentioned that the presence of the teeth can be one of the determinant factor of the fracture location . the management of teeth in the line of fracture had changed within the past years . in the past , it was thought that teeth in the line of fractures should be immediately removed . although recent studies support the vision that non infected teeth in the line of fracture can be preserved . this study demonstrated that in 16 patients the vitality of the teeth in the line of fracture with grade i and ii mobility was gradually improved and where as in 9 patients the teeth in the line of fracture remained non vital and out of which 5 pts showed signs of infection due to grade iii mobility which had to be extracted to prevent further complications . macan et al . in his study concluded that one third of the teeth were reinnervated within 6 weeks after injury and a year after the injury 81% were reinnervated . the study demonstrated that 20 patients with teeth in the line of fractures favoured the treatment as they contributed in stabilizing the fractured segments . correct repositioning of fractured fragments is made quicker and easier if the tooth in the line of fracture is conservatively managed . if extracted , they increase the risk of fracture contamination and may sometimes be difficult to suture . study supports the vision that noninfected teeth in the line of fracture can be preserved . the maintenance of these teeth can favour the treatment in some cases ; therefore they contribute for the stability of the fracture . its removal can be harmful , once that can diminish the contact between fragments , cause additional trauma to the region , increase the risk of contamination of the fracture through the empty alveolus , convert a closed fracture into an open fracture and cause the loss of the bony bunch in the zone of tension . each case must be evaluated individually , for maintaining or not the teeth in the fracture line , depending on the clinical and radiographic findings . it is generally accepted by most surgeons that antibiotic therapy should be administered when teeth are left in the line of fracture because of open nature and contamination of the oral cavity . conservative treatment of teeth involved in the line of mandibular fractures has a favourable prognosis , especially if optimal reduction of the jaw fragments is achieved . the study demonstrated that the teeth presence in the line of mandibular fracture is not a limiting factor for the treatment . teeth associated with mandibular fracture should not be removed on a prophylactic basis to reduce the risk of infection of fracture sites just if there is an absolute indication for removal and when retained , they should be followed - up clinically and radiographically for at least 1 year with a view to endodontic treatment if indicated . patients with teeth in the fracture line showing no response on pulp vitality testing should be advised extraction to avoid further complications . despite the risk of rate of complications , tooth in the fracture line both clinical and radiological should be mandatory for at least a period of 1 year . each case must be evaluated individually , for maintaining or not the teeth in the fracture line , depending on the clinical and radiographic findings . as our sample size consisted of only 25 patients , a larger sample size with long - term follow - up