Prevalence and associated factors for mandibular Premolar impaction in various malocclusions

Teeth which fail to erupt to the level of the occlusal plane even after ⅔ rd root formation is completed are termed as impacted teeth. Prevalence of impacted teeth can vary from one person to another and also among populations. This study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of mandibular premolar impaction in various skeletal malocclusion patients. This retrospective study included case records of 886 subjects who visited the orthodontic department of Saveetha Dental College from June 2019- March 2020. OPG and intraoral photographs of all the subjects were analysed to find the prevalence of mandibular premolar impaction. The present study reported the prevalence of impacted mandibular premolar at 0.5%. Out of the total 4 cases in which mandibular premolars were impacted, three patients had skeletal Class I malocclusion. The prevalence of premolar impaction was higher in females than males. No significant association between gender and premolar impaction was noted (p > 0.05). To conclude, though the prevalence of mandibular premolar impaction is low, it is important to diagnose early to avoid complications and plan treatment.