Risk assessment of pericoronitis in correlation with the position of the inferior third molar

Abstract

Introduction. The inferior third molar is the most encountered impacted permanent tooth. Pericoronitis of the lower third molar is a term used to describe the inflammation around the crown of a tooth, usually of an incompletely erupted mandibular third molar. Mandibular molar impactions are usually mesioangular, distoangular, vertical, and horizontal. The position and type of the impaction may affect the development of pericoronitis. This study was conducted to assess the positions of the lower wisdom tooth as a risk factor for pericoronitis. Material and methods. The present study was conducted in the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Implantology „Arsenie Guțan”. A number of 120 patients were included in the study (66 women and 54 men) aged between 17-46 years old (mean 27±SD 6). All candidates were subjected to CBCT (cone beam computed tomography) scan and orthopantomography evaluation for a third molar position such as vertical, mesioangular, distoangular, and horizontal type. Data were stored in an Excel spreadsheet and then analyzed statistically using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Results. Based on the results of our study the greatest number of cases of pericoronitis was observed in the vertical position (92 cases) by Winter, followed by mesioangular position (24 cases) and distoangular position (4 cases). In the study we did not identify any patient with a horizontal position. By the classification of Pell and Gregory, most cases belonged to class I (73 cases). Third molars classified in position A (92 cases) had greater chance of pericoronitis when compared to those in B (24 cases) or C position (4 cases). Conclusions. As a result of a detailed analysis, vertical position of the lower third molar is more associated with the appearance of pericoronitis. Considering Pell and Gregory classification, position A is more associated with the occurrence of pericoronitis compared to the position B or C. The prophylactic removal of the lower third semi-erupted vertical molar, or which is situated in position A, is indicated to prevent pericoronitis.