Radiographic Evaluation of Impacted Third Molars and Their Complications in a Group of Iranian Population

Mohammad Mehdizadeh,Rashid Soufizadeh,Ali Bijani,Sina Haghanifar,Maryam Seyedmajidi

doi:10.5171/2014.486120

Abstract

Background and aim : An impacted tooth is a tooth that did not grow on its expected time because of an incorrect position or lack of space. The impacted third molar is the most common impacted tooth. In the present study, the presence of the impacted third molar teeth and their complications in the panoramic radiography of patients were evaluated. Methods and materials : The frequency of impacted third molars, in two jaws and two genders, their position (impaction depth and angulations), their influence on adjacent teeth and their relations to inferior alveolar canal were evaluated in 2000 panoramic radiography of patients who were over 20 years old. Results : 333(16.65%) patients [161(48.3%) men and 172(51.7%) women] with mean age of 30.32 ± 7.22 years (between 20 - 68 years old) had impacted teeth. 313 cases only had impacted third molars, 16 cases had other impacted teeth and 4 patients had both impacted third molar and other impacted teeth. Prevalence of impacted wisdom teeth is in mandible more than maxilla and in women more than men. The mesioangular angulation in mandible and upright angulation in the maxilla were the most common angular position. Type B in the mandible and type C in the maxilla were the most common types of impaction's depth. Most of the mandibular and maxillary impacted third molars showed complete root development. Higher frequency of distal caries or defects of the adjacent second molars was found in the mandible. Conclusion: Frequency of impacted third molars in mandible was more than maxilla. Also impacted third molars were found in women more than men. With regard to mandibular third molars, mesioangular and type IB were the common pattern.The relationship between the position of the tooth and distal caries of second molar will be an interesting finding and has clinical importance.

Highlights

The frequency of impacted third molars, in two jaws and two genders, their position, their influence on adjacent teeth and their relations to inferior alveolar canal were evaluated in 2000 panoramic radiography of patients who were over 20 years old
As jaws in different populations vary in size and this affects the impaction of the third molars, this study was done for the evaluation of the presence of the impacted third molars, and their complications in the panoramic radiography of patients in a group of Iranian population over 20 years old who referred to oral and maxillofacial radiology of Babol dental faculty (North of Iran)
From 548 impacted third molars, 339 (62%) of impacted teeth were on the mandible, and 209 (38%) of them were on the maxillary

Summary

Introduction

Impacted tooth is the tooth that does not appear in the oral cavity on expected time and typically there is no possibility for growth for a variety of reasons, such as high density of bone over tooth, growth inhibition by adjacent tooth, mucosal high thickness on growing tooth or genetic causes that stopped the normal growing. (Al-Khateeb et al 2006, Hupp et al 2008)Mandibular third molar is the most common impacted tooth, and the surgery for its removing by oral and maxillofacial surgeons is the most common performed surgical procedure (Obeichina et al 2001) and might be due to pathological changes or prophylactic purposes (Polat et al 2008) .With regard to complications of impacted teeth such as periodontal problems, dental caries of the adjacent tooth, root resorption of adjacent teeth, crowding, cyst or tumor formation and pain with unknown cause, a well planed, accurate and in time treatment should prevent complications (Aitasalo et al 1972).Various studies are done about impacted third molar and related complications. They observed 338 patients between ages of 16 and 54 (Mean 24.4±6.1 years old). They had 473 mandibular impacted third molars (Obeichina et al 2001). The presence of the impacted third molar teeth and their complications in the panoramic radiography of patients were evaluated. Methods and materials: The frequency of impacted third molars, in two jaws and two genders, their position (impaction depth and angulations), their influence on adjacent teeth and their relations to inferior alveolar canal were evaluated in 2000 panoramic radiography of patients who were over 20 years old.

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Discussion

Conclusion