Abstract
Objectives:To evaluate the epidemiological patterns of third molar impaction in a cohort of patients living in the north of Saudi Arabia.Materials and Methods:A retrospective cohort study comprised of analysing 2550 Orthopantomograms (OPGs) belonging to patients who attended Aljouf University College of Dentistry between September 2013 and December 2015. OPGs were examined to determine the frequency of third molar impaction, their levels of eruption and angulations. Mixed effects logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate adjusted odds ratios. Data were weighted by age and sex based on population regional estimates.Results:1551 patients (60.8%) with a mean age of 33.5 years-old (95%CI: 32.9 to 34) demonstrated 2650 impacted third molars. Third molars were more likely present in patients aged from 20 to 39 years-old (p<0.001); and in mandible more than maxilla (p<0.001). It showed highest vertical impaction and higher impaction rate in mandible than maxilla. Level A impaction was the most common among other levels by 1365 (53.5%). Vertical impaction was the most common pattern (1354 patients; 53.1%). Mesioangular impaction ranked second in mandible, while distoangular impaction ranked second in maxilla. There was no statistically significant difference between males and females concerning impaction frequency, depth levels and angulations.Conclusion:Impacted third molars is still a public health concern among youth and young adults. Vertically impacted mandibular third molars with their occlusal plane at the same level as the occlusal plane of adjacent tooth is the most prevalent pattern of third molar impaction in the northern region of Saudi Arabia.
Highlights
Removal of impacted third molars or “wisdom teeth” is a common surgical procedure performed in dental clinics
The reported prevalence of third molar impaction reveals worldwide variability ranging from 30.3% to 68.6% [2 - 9] This variability can be explained by the variances in race and ethnicity, and their effects on epidemiological characteristics of third molar impaction
While few studies examined some patterns of third molar impaction in the western, central and southern regions of Saudi Arabia [6, 7], none of these studies assessed the patterns of third molar impaction in the north of Saudi Arabia
Summary
Removal of impacted third molars or “wisdom teeth” is a common surgical procedure performed in dental clinics. Impaction refers to the pathologic condition in which the normal eruption is hindered preventing the affected tooth from reaching a functional position in the dental arch within a predictable timeframe. A Cohort Study of the Patterns of Third Molar Impaction. Several local and systematic causes can substantially lead to the impaction of third molars. Normal eruption can be distorted or even prevented by the presence of local physical barriers such as an adjacent tooth, dense overlying bone or excessive soft tissue. Third molar is the most frequently impacted tooth.
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