title: Distribution of Third Molar Impactions Among Rural and Urban Dwellers in the Age Group of 22-30 years in South India: A Comparative Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  (1) To collect the data related to distribution of third molar impactions among rural population by clinical and radiological examinations. (2) To collect the information on distribution of third molar impactions among urban population by clinical and radiological examinations. (3) To compare the patterns of distribution of third molar impactions among rural and urban residents with respect to type of impaction, arch, gender and age.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in Dharwad district of Karnataka state located in South India involving 630 rural and 270 urban subjects as per demographic profile of India. A two stage sampling procedure was adopted in the selection of the sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was analyzed using STATISTICA-6.0. χ(2) test was used to explore the association between different variables and third molar impactions. A P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  14.92% of rural subjects and 27.40% urban subjects were reported to be suffering from third molar impactions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall prevalence of third molar impactions among the study subjects was found to be 18.67%. A significant association was noticed between the 'different arches' and distribution of third molar impactions in both rural and urban population. Subjects with vertical impactions were found to be most common in both the groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public health dentistry, People's college of dental sciences & Research centre, Karond-Bhanpur by pass road, Bhopal, 462037 Madhya Pradesh India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Venu Gopal Reddy
keywords: Cross-sectional study; Demographic profile; Rural; Third molar impaction; Urban; Vertical impaction