Objectives: The aim of the present study was to radiographically evaluate the pattern of third molar impaction in a sample of Libyan patients, in terms of age, gender, angulation of impaction, level of eruption and available retromolar space using panoramic radiographs. Furthermore, cross tabulation between patterns of impaction and gendernarch were evaluated for any significant difference. Study design: This retrospective study comprised 300 orthopantomograms (OPGs) of patients attending a private dental clinic in Benghazi between 2008 and 2013. Radiographic assessment was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of impaction, angular position of impaction, level of eruption and available retromolar space. Results were analysed using Pearson's coefficient test and Student's t-test Results: Among 1200 third molars reviewed, 843 (70%) were classified as impacted, of which 371 (44%) were in the maxilla and 472 (56%) were in the mandible. The most prevalent angular position was mesioangular (34.6%) followed by vertical (31.3%) and distoangular (27.7%). A significant association existed between angular position and arch (P < 0.001).Class IIA was the most common Pell and Gregory classification (38.6%). Significant association was found between the level of eruption and arch (P < 0.001). Bilateral impaction was more common than unilateral impaction in both arches. Conclusion: Our study highlights mesioangular impaction as the most frequently encountered angular position. The most common level of eruption was Level B; and the majority of impacted third molars (72.7%) had less than adequate space for eruption. ª 2015 The Authors. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Objectives:To analyze the frequency and type of benign orofacial lesions submitted for diagnosis at Tripoli Medical Centre over 17 years period (1997-2013).Materials and Methods:Entries for specimens from patients were retrieved and compiled into 9 diagnostic categories and 82 diagnoses.Results:During the 17 years period, a total of 975 specimens were evaluated, it comprised a male-female ratio of 0.76:1. The mean age of biopsied patients was 36.3±18.32 years. The diagnostic category with the highest number of specimens was skin and mucosal pathology (22.87%); and the most frequent diagnosis was pyogenic granuloma (14.05%).Conclusion:Pyogenic granuloma, lichen planus, radicular cyst and fibroepithelial polyp were found to be the most predominant diagnoses. Frequencies of most benign orofacial diseases were comparable to similar studies in the literature and to those reported from the eastern region of Libya. Further surveys are needed to define the epidemiology of orofacial diseases in Libyan population.

Objectives:The aim of the present study was to evaluate the level of Libyan general dental practitioners' knowledge about the current guidelines of dental trauma management. In addition, association between knowledge of recommended treatment modalities and demographic data of participants was evaluated. Materials and Methods: A two-part questionnaire containing questions on demographic data and 12 multiple choice questions on dental trauma management was distributed among a total of 233 dentists in Benghazi and Tripoli. The survey data were analyzed using the Pearson Chi-square test at P < 0.05 level of confi dence. In addition, mean knowledge scores were calculated, and one-way ANOVA was used to determine the association between knowledge scores and demographic data of participants. Results: Questionnaires were returned by 157 dentists. However, this study only reports on the 144 general dental practitioners who comprised (91.7%) of participants. Dentists who had previous experience in dental trauma had signifi cantly higher mean knowledge scores (P = 0.000).in contrast, there was a poor correlation between mean knowledge scores and dentists' gender, years since graduation or postgraduate dental trauma courses. Conclusion: There is a need to improve the knowledge base of general dental practitioners in the current guidelines for the emergency management of traumatic dental injuries.