Prevalence of commonly found pathoses associated with mandibular impacted third molars based on panoramic radiographs in Turkish population

ObjectiveThe objective was to determine the association between commonly found pathologic conditions and angulations and impaction depths of lower third molar teeth.Study designIn this retrospective study 1,914 panoramic radiographs with 3,050 impacted lower third molars (ILTMs) were examined.ResultsThe problems and the prevalence evaluated were caries on mandibular second molar (12.6%), caries on ILTM (5.3%), bone loss at the distal aspect of ILTM (9.7%), and periodontal tissue damage on adjacent tooth (8.9%). A total of 26.5% of all the cases were affected by any one of the 4 pathologic changes. It was determined that horizontal and mesioangular ILTMs had high risk of caries development on second or third molar; in contrast, vertical and distoangular ILTMs had low risk. Distoangular and vertical ILTMs had high risk of development of bone loss at the distal aspect. Mesioangular and horizontal ILTMs had a high risk for periodontal tissue damage on an adjacent tooth. When evaluating impaction depth of the ILTM, class A had a higher risk of pathology than class B or C.ConclusionsHorizontal and mesioangular impactions were found with more pathologic situations; especially in class A impaction depth. Angulation and impaction depth of the ILTM should be taken into consideration when making a decision whether to extract an ILTM or not.