Radiographic evaluation of third molar impaction: A digital panoramic stud

Background: The impaction of third molar can compromise adjacent teeth by increasing the risk of developing dentoalveolar lesions. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of impacted third molar in association to patients' demographics and its angulation among patients who visited dental clinics at the College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University. Settings and Design: Retrospective radiographic study of patients visiting Dental Hospital. Subjects and Methods: Data were obtained from the dental records and digital orthopantomogram (OPG) of included study sample. Statistical Analysis: The Chi-square test was used to determine the association of impacted third molars with sex and nationality, whereas another two methods, analysis of variance, and Tukey post hoc test were applied, respectively, to establish the association of impacted third molars with the age of the patients. Results: A total of 1286 OPGs were collected and analyzed for the suitability of the study. Of these 1068 patients fulfilled the criteria for inclusion in the study, among them, 206 (19.3%) had at least one impacted third molar. Female population had a significantly high prevalence of third molars compared to male (P = 0.02). Similarly, the age of the patients was found to be significantly associated with impacted teeth (P < 0.001); also, the vertical and mesioangular impactions were found in 46.5% and 32.2% of the patients, respectively. Conclusion: The study found a low female predilection for the prevalence of third molar impaction with highest inclination at the young age that decreases with the growing age. Vertical impaction had the highest prevalence followed by mesioangular angulation.