Introduction: Impaction is a condition in which a tooth is completely or partially unerupted and positioned against another tooth, bone or soft tissue, so that its further eruption is unlikely, according to its anatomic position. Phylogenetic evolution and genetics are thought to be some of the causes for impaction. Impacted teeth are often associated with pericoronitis, periodontitis, cystic lesions, neoplasm, root resorption, and can cause detrimental effects on adjacent tooth. Aim: To radiographically analyse the prevalence of third molar teeth impaction and its pattern in South Indian population. Materials and Methods: The data for the radiographic analysis was derived from OPGs (orthopantomograms) taken in Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Chennai, between June 2021 to June 2022 for adult patients. Out of the 979 OPGs recorded, 582 were included in the study. Results and discussion: In the present study, the prevalence of third molar impaction was 37.7%. Missing third molars were increasingly reported in the first quadrant, followed by the second, fourth and third quadrant. When the pattern of impaction was studied, vertical impaction followed the order: first quadrant higher than fourth quadrant, the second followed by the third. When mesioangular impaction was analysed, the fourth quadrant was followed by the third, the first and then the second quadrant. When the distoangular pattern was studied, the second and first quadrants were reported to have the same pattern, followed by the third and fourth ones, respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of mandibular impaction was higher than maxillary impaction in South Indian population. Our study also revealed that the depth of impaction was mostly of level A, followed by levels B and C.
Keywords:- eruption
- impaction
- orthopantomograms
- radiograph