A Radiograhic Study of the Third Molar Inclusion

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the incidence of inclusion of lower and upper third molar in the population of Mures county. Materials and Methods: For this study, we examined the orthopantomograms (OPGs) of 243 patients (including 138 women and 105 men, aged 19-57 years old) who had impacted third molars and who presented to three Orthodontic Clinics in Tîrgu Mureș between 2015-2017. All impacted third molars were taken into consideration but which at the same time presented fully developed roots. We excluded from the study patients with pathological condition or craniofacial syndromes such as cleidocranial dysostosis and Down syndrome. Results: In both women and men, the most common cases were of one impacted molar (61,72%), then two (27,16%) and three (11,12%) impacted molars. Based on the evaluation of all radiographs, 363 impacted teeth were observed, with a higher proportion in women (54,27%) compared to men (45,73%). With regard to the location of the impacted teeth in the mandible or the maxilla, in both female and male patients, the incidence of mandibular impactions was higher (62,25%) than in the maxilla (37,75%). Regarding the link between the position on the arch (right and left side) and the localization of the impacted teeth, in female patients we can assert that while the mandible had the largest number of impacted teeth on the right side (69,35%), the impacted teeth in the maxilla were more numerous on the left side (60,27%) (p=0,00004). In male patients, regardless of whether the impactions were in the mandible or in the maxilla, they were more frequent on the right side (70,58% in mandible and 76,56% in maxilla) than on the left one. Conclusions 1. The incidence of impacted wisdom teeth is higher in females compared to males. 2. Impacted wisdom teeth are more common on lower arch than on upper arch. 3. In female patients, the prevalence of impaction is higher on the right side in the mandible and on the left side in the maxilla 4. In male patients, the prevalence of impaction on the right side is higher in both mandible and maxilla