Prevalence and Pattern of Mandibular Third Molar Impaction in Eritrean Population: A Retrospective Study.
BACKGROUND
The most commonly impacted tooth in the oral cavity is the mandibular third molar. Various etiologic factors have been suggested for impacted mandibular third molars. The pattern and prevalence of impacted mandibular third molars vary with different population and region. This study throws light on the prevalence and pattern of impacted mandibular third molars in Eritrea, East Africa. This is the first reported study regarding the same from Eritrea.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence and pattern of impacted mandibu-lar third molars in the population of Eritrea, East Africa by conducting a retrospective study from January 2009 to January 2014.


METHODS
This study was conducted in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orotta School of Medicine and Dental Medicine and the Orotta Referral Medical and Surgical Hospital, Asmara, Eritrea. A total of 1,813 clinical and radiographic records [orthopantomograms] were assessed and 276 cases were selected for the study as per the inclusion criteria. They were evaluated for the frequency among the various age groups, gender and region along with the sides affected, angulation and level of impaction. The presence of systemic conditions and associated pathologies was also assessed according to the type of impaction.


RESULTS
The average age of these patients in the study was found to be 30 years, with the 20 to 30 years age group being the most affected (67.4%). Females (53.3%) were affected more than the males (46.7%). People from the Asmara region showed significantly more prevalence (79.7%) than the adjoining areas (20.3%). Mesioangular impaction was the most common angulation with a definite relationship to the age groups (p = 0.032). The level of impaction had no significant relationship to the age groups, gender, or region, although class I position A was found to be the most common type. Mesioangular class I position A impac-tion showed an apparent relationship with underlying systemic conditions, but it was statistically insignificant. Mesioangular impaction was found to be associated with the most number of pathologies (p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of mandibular impaction was less in Eritrea (15.2%) compared with other populations. This study provides useful baseline data for the prevalence and pattern of mandibular impaction in the Eritrean population.


CONCLUSIONS
This study throws light on the pattern, type, and frequency of mandibular impacted teeth as per age, sex, and region among the population of Eritrea.
Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Phone: +966593301265 e-mail: drraj.drraj@gmail.com.
V Raj
VR
Kumar
Department of Periodontics, ESIC Dental College & Hospital New Delhi, India.
Priya
P
Yadav
Orotta School of Medicine and Dental Medicine, Asmara, Eritrea.
Efrem
E
Kahsu
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Institute of Dental Studies and Technologies, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Farhana
F
Girkar
Institute of Dental Studies and Technologies, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Rajnish
R
Chakraborty
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D019017:Eritrea / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology
Eritrea; Impacted mandibular third molar; Pattern Prevalence.