Document Type : مقاله‌های پژوهشی

Abstract

Introduction: The impaction of third molars is very common. Due to the possible damages due to impaction and the effect of its angulation on treatment, it is important to study this pattern. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of impacted mandibular third molars separately for each angulation on panoramic radiographs of patients referred to the Department of Maxillofacial Radiology, Esfahan Faculty of Dentistry.
Materials & Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was performed on 1000 panoramic radiographs available in the Department of Maxillofacial Radiology, Esfahan Faculty of Dentistryin 2013‒2014. The patients’ data, including gender and angulation of the impacted teeth, were recorded. Data were analyzed with chi-squared test, using SPSS 17 (α = 0.05).
Results: The majority of impacted third molars were found in female patients with 228 cases (58.91%), followed by male patients with 159 (41.09%) of 387 unilateral and bilateral cases of impacted third molars. The most frequent angulation was vertical with 247 cases (40.8%) and the least frequent angulation was buccolingual with 22 cases (3.62%). There were 218 bilateral impactions (56.09%). Chi-squared test showed significant relationships between the frequency of impaction of third molars and dentitions with no extracted teeth and those with one or more extractions (p value < 0.001). In addition, there were no significant differences in the complete dentitions and those with extracted teeth between males and females (p value = 0.953).
Conclusion: This study showed that the most common angulation of impaction of mandibular third molars was vertical and the buccolingual angulation exhibited lowest rate of impaction. Bilateral impaction was the most common mode and wisdom tooth impaction was more frequent in female patients.
Key words: Mandible, Panoramic radiography, Third molar.