Prevalence of impacted teeth and their associated pathologies on panoramic films in the Saudi Population

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of impacted teeth and their associated pathologies according to age, gender, site, and type of impaction in the Saudi population in the city of Jeddah using digital panoramic radiographs. Materials and Methods: A total of 2431 digital panoramic radiographs taken during the period between January 2010 and January 2017 were analyzed following exclusion criteria. Finally, a total of 2229 X-rays were considered for the study. Results: The most commonly impacted teeth were upper and lower left third mandibular molars. The most common angulation type was horizontal and the least was vertical impaction. Based on the overlying tissue covering the impacted teeth, soft-tissue impactions were the most common. There was no statistically significant outcome regarding the pathologies as cysts or tumors associated with the impacted teeth. There was a significant association between mesioangular impacted teeth and caries in the second molars. Conclusion: In our study, partial bony mesioangular impactions in level B positions were associated with significant distal caries in the second molars, whereas vertical impactions in level C positions caused increased distal bony loss and resorption which would warrant early surgical intervention in patients and also help in informing the patients on the ramifications of delaying the same. A statistically significant number of partial bony impacted third molars were carious, warranting early intervention.