Timing of clinical eruption of third molars in a Jordanian population

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study aimed at providing the first standards on the timing of third molar eruption in Jordanians. MethodsA total of 571 healthy Jordanian adolescents and young adults aged 15-27 years (275 males and 296 females distributed into one-year age groups) were clinically examined for third molar eruption. Presence of four clinical eruption stages from crown emergence to full eruption were counted and expressed each as a frequency relative to the total of participants within a given age group. Using probit regression, median ages at each of the eruption stages were calculated for the whole sample and for both genders. ResultsIn the whole sample, maxillary and mandibular third molars were found to emerge at 20 and 20.6 years and to reach full eruption at 22.7 and 23.5 years respectively. At all of the four clinical eruption stages, third molars of males and lower jaw slightly preceded those of females and upper jaw respectively. However, none of the differences were statistically significant. ConclusionsThe first data on the timing of clinical eruption of third molars in a Jordanian population have been provided to be utilized in various clinical and research fields of orthodontics, dental pathology, oral surgery, paleodontology, forensic dentistry and police sciences. As the clinical duration of third molar eruption ranges from 20 to 24 years, the responsibility for providing care of third molar eruption problems is shifted from secondary schools to tertiary education, governmental and private work bodies.