Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Oral Health
Published in: BMC Oral Health 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Impaction of lower third molars and their association with age: radiological perspectives

Authors: Soukaina Ryalat, Saif Aldeen AlRyalat, Zaid Kassob, Yazan Hassona, Mohammad H. Al-Shayyab, Faleh Sawair

Published in: BMC Oral Health | Issue 1/2018

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Third molars are the most commonly impacted teeth, and their extraction is the most commonly performed procedure in oral and maxillofacial surgery. The aim of the present study is to describe the pattern of mandibular third molar impaction and to define the most appropriate age for prophylactic extraction of mandibular third molar teeth.

Methods

A total of 1198 orthopantomographs (OPGs) with 1810 impacted lower third molars were reviewed by two authors. The pattern of eruption in relation to patient’s age was examined using standard radiographic points and angles. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows release 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

Results

In patients older than 20 years, vertical pattern of impaction was the most common (21.4%); while in young patients; horizontal impaction was more common (21.3%). Furthermore, there was a constant pattern of increase in Pell-Gregory ramus class 1 with increasing age, as the prevalence of class 1 was 0% at age 18 years compared to 54.9% at the age of 26 years.

Conclusion

Frequency of vertical impaction of lower third molars was seen more at an older age (> 20 years) in this study, with an increase in the retromolar space. Late extraction of mandibular third molar teeth (i.e. after the age of 20) is therefore recommended when prophylactic extraction is considered.
Literature
1.
Carter K, Worthington S. Predictors of third molar impaction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Dent Res. 2016;95(3):267–76.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Costa MG, Pazzini CA, Pantuzo MC, Jorge ML, Marques LS. Is there justification for prophylactic extraction of third molars? A systematic review. Braz Oral Res. 2013;27(2):183–8.CrossRefPubMed
3.
4.
Lopes V, Mumenya R, Feinmann C, Harris M. Third molar surgery: an audit of the indications for surgery, post-operative complaints and patient satisfaction. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1995;33(1):33–5.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Oginni FO, Ugboko VI, Assam E, Ogunbodede EO. Postoperative complaints following impacted mandibular third molar surgery in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. SADJ. 2002;57(7):264–8.PubMed
6.
Renton T. Prevention of iatrogenic inferior alveolar nerve injuries in relation to dental procedures. SADJ. 2010;65(8):342–4. 6-8, 50-1PubMed
7.
Malkawi Z, Al-Omiri MK, Khraisat A. Risk indicators of postoperative complications following surgical extraction of lower third molars. Med Princ Pract. 2011;20(4):321–5.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Sciller WR. Positional changes in mesioangular impacted mandibular third molars during a year. J Am Dent Aasoc. 1975;99:460–4.CrossRef
9.
Venta I. Predictive model for impaction of lower third molars. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1993;76(6):699–703.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Odusanya SA, Abayomi IO. Third molar eruption among rural Nigerians. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1991;71(2):151–4.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Sewerin I, von Wowern N. A radiographic four-year follow-up study of asymptomatic mandibular third molars in young adults. Int Dent J. 1990;40(1):24–30.PubMed
12.
Venta I, Murtomaa H, Turtola L, Meurman J, Ylipaavalniemi P. Clinical follow-up study of third molar eruption from ages 20 to 26 years. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1991;72(2):150–3.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Richardson M. Changes in lower third molar position in the young adult. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 1992;102(4):320–7.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Haralabakis H. Observation on the time of eruption, congenital absence, and impaction of the third molar teeth. Trans EurOrthod Soc. 1957;33:308–9.
15.
Topkara A, Sari Z. Investigation of third molar impaction in Turkish orthodontic patients: prevalence, depth and angular positions. Eur J Dent. 2013;7(Suppl 1):S94–8.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
16.
Quek SL, Tay CK, Tay KH, Toh SL, Lim KC. Pattern of third molar impaction in a Singapore Chinese population: a retrospective radiographic survey. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2003;32(5):548–52.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Celikoglu M, Miloglu O, Kazanci F. Frequency of agenesis, impaction, angulation, and related pathologic changes of third molar teeth in orthodontic patients. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2010;68(5):990–5.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Hugoson A, Kugelberg CF. The prevalence of third molars in a Swedish population. An epidemiological study. Community Dent Health. 1988;5(2):121–38.PubMed
19.
Hattab FN, Rawashdeh MA, Fahmy MS. Impaction status of third molars in Jordanian students. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 1995;79(1):24–9.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Różyło-Kalinowska I, Burdan F, Marchut T. Morphology of third molar teeth with incompletely formed apices on the basis of panoramic radiograms. Folia Morphol (Warsz). 2003;62(2):1–9.
21.
Pogrel MA, Dodson TB, Swift JQ, Bonine F, Rafetto L, Kennedy J, Malmquist J. White paper on third molar data. AAOMS. 2007;1–25.
Metadata
Title
Impaction of lower third molars and their association with age: radiological perspectives
Authors
Soukaina Ryalat
Saif Aldeen AlRyalat
Zaid Kassob
Yazan Hassona
Mohammad H. Al-Shayyab
Faleh Sawair
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Oral Health / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6831
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-018-0519-1

Other articles of this Issue 1/2018

BMC Oral Health 1/2018 Go to the issue

Research article

History of periodontal treatment and risk for intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)

Research article

Palatal dimensions at different stages of dentition in 5 to 18-year-old Iranian children and adolescent with normal occlusion

Research article

Oral lichen-planus-associated fibroblasts acquire myofibroblast characteristics and secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide stimulation

Research article

Do hypoxia and L-mimosine modulate sclerostin and dickkopf-1 production in human dental pulp-derived cells? Insights from monolayer, spheroid and tooth slice cultures

Research article

Inequalities in oral health among adolescents in Gangneung, South Korea

Research article

Effects of dynamic aging on the wear and fracture strength of monolithic zirconia restorations