Prevalence of commonly found pathoses associated with mandibular impacted third molars based on panoramic radiographs in Turkish population.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to determine the association between commonly found pathologic conditions and angulations and impaction depths of lower third molar teeth.


METHODS
In this retrospective study 1,914 panoramic radiographs with 3,050 impacted lower third molars (ILTMs) were examined.


RESULTS
The problems and the prevalence evaluated were caries on mandibular second molar (12.6%), caries on ILTM (5.3%), bone loss at the distal aspect of ILTM (9.7%), and periodontal tissue damage on adjacent tooth (8.9%). A total of 26.5% of all the cases were affected by any one of the 4 pathologic changes. It was determined that horizontal and mesioangular ILTMs had high risk of caries development on second or third molar; in contrast, vertical and distoangular ILTMs had low risk. Distoangular and vertical ILTMs had high risk of development of bone loss at the distal aspect. Mesioangular and horizontal ILTMs had a high risk for periodontal tissue damage on an adjacent tooth. When evaluating impaction depth of the ILTM, class A had a higher risk of pathology than class B or C.


CONCLUSIONS
Horizontal and mesioangular impactions were found with more pathologic situations; especially in class A impaction depth. Angulation and impaction depth of the ILTM should be taken into consideration when making a decision whether to extract an ILTM or not.
Polat
Hidayet Burak
HB
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey. hidayetpolat@yahoo.com
Ozan
Fatih
F
Kara
Isa
I
Ozdemir
Hakan
H
Ay
Sinan
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D003657:Decision Making; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014421:Turkey