Background and Aim: This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of the impacted third molars and their associated pathologies in the population of Az Zulfi, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: This study was conducted in the clinics of the College of Dentistry, Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia. A total of 1695 orthopantomograms (OPG) from December 2018 and December 2019 were evaluated using the third molar characteristics evaluation form (TMCEF).
Results: Minimum of one impacted third molar had been found in 240 OPG among 1695 studied. Among the gender, males (15.6%) showed more impacted teeth prevalence than females (3.1%). The incidence of mandibular molar impaction (23%) is more when compared to that of the maxilla (14.3%). The mandible shows more prevalence of mesioangular impaction (50.44%) and in the maxilla, it is vertical impaction (49.39%). Depending upon the space available between the second molar distal surface and the mandibular anterior ramus, Class II (51.09%) pattern is found to be more common than the other two Classes. Depending on the level of impaction Position B (45.95%) and Position C (59.83%) were found to be more common in the lower and upper jaw, respectively. More than 66% of maxillary impactions had close approximation to the maxillary sinus floor on both sides. Among the impacted teeth 187 had some associated pathology and dental caries were the most frequent one among all the other pathology reported.
Conclusions: The most common impacted tooth in Az Zulfi, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is mesioangular and position B in the mandible and vertical and position C in the maxilla.
Key words: Mandible, Maxilla, Third molar, Tooth, Impacted.
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