Maxillary and Mandibular Third Molars Impaction with Associated Pathologies in a North Cyprus Population: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

This study aimed to find out the incidence of impacted third molars and associated pathologies in people who live in the North Cyprus population. Dr. Burhan Nalbantoglu State Hospital is the only hospital that has an oral and maxillofacial surgery department among the state hospitals in North Cyprus. Patients who were referred to this department during a one-year period due to the complaints regarding their third molar were included in our study. This retrospective study involved 550 patients aged 16 to 65 years (1752 third molars). Chi-square tests were done for bilateral comparison between age, gender, and third molar (p < 0.05). Among the groups included in the study, the highest number of third molars originated from the 20–29 age group (n = 1050). Among all 1752 third molars, 716 (40%) of them erupted, while 1036 (60%) were impacted molar teeth, with significant differences between genders (p > 0.05). The most often impacted position in the mandible was the mesioangular type (42%) and in the maxilla was the vertical type (62%). Partially and completely impacted mandibular third molars showed a significant difference between the left and right sides (p < 0.05). A huge proportion of third molars are impacted in the North Cyprus population. The degree of impaction of wisdom teeth and the problems they cause should be well evaluated, and the surgical approach should be considered according to the baseline of this data.

The Patterns of Impacted Third Molars and Their Associated Pathologies: A Retrospective Observational Study of 704 Patients

“…A number of studies found that the prevalence of impacted third molars was higher in the mandible [28]. There is still debate about whether the impaction of the mandibular third molar or maxillary third molar is more commonly seen [33]. It is generally agreed that the mandibular third molar becomes impacted more than any other tooth; from 17% to 25% of the general population will have one or more impacted third molars [34].…”

The Analysis of Intermolar Width and Skeletal Base Class as a Predictor of Potential Maxillary Canine Impaction in Permanent Dentition: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…After the maxillary and mandibular third molars, the maxillary canines are the third most impacted teeth, 1 and there are more palatally impacted maxillary canines than labially impacted maxillary canines. Moreover, maxillary canines are more commonly impacted than mandibular canines.…”

Third molar impaction prevalence and pattern: a panoramic radiography investigation

“…A tooth is said to be impacted when it fails to erupt more than a year after its expected eruption time. 3,[6][7][8][9] Although most impacted teeth are asymptomatic, impacted third molars are still a significant clinical problem because untreated impacted third molars can cause a number of complications, including pericoronitis, periodontitis, caries, root resorption of adjacent teeth, temporomandibular joint disorders, bone loss, development of odontogenic cysts, and tumors of the oral cavity. 2,4,9 Third molar pain and edema are another group of problems that call for urgent dental care during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”