Investigation of third molar impaction in Turkish orthodontic patients: Prevalence, depth and angular positions

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the prevalence, distribution, angular position, and depth of third molar impaction in a Turkish orthodontic patient population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the panoramic radiographs, intraoral photographs, and dental casts of 207 patients (62 men and 145 women; age 20-39 years) who had undergone orthodontic treatment at a university department of orthodontics for impacted third molars (ITMs). A comprehensive chart review of all subjects was conducted. Patient and treatment-related data were recorded in a digital database for comparative analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of ITMs was 54.1%, and no statistically significant gender differences were evident (61.3% in men and 51.0% in women; P = 0.23). The frequency of maxillary ITMs was 49.3% (148 of 300 teeth) while that of mandibular ITMs was 50.7% (152 of 300 teeth). The most frequently observed angulations of impaction were mesioangular for the mandible (65.1%), and distoangular for the maxilla (64.2%). Of all the ITMs analysed, 61% were partially buried in bone and 39% were completely buried. CONCLUSIONS: Third molar impaction was evident in 54.1% of a group of Turkish orthodontic patients aged 20-39 years, and there was no statistically significant gender bias. Mesioangular and distoangular inclinations were the most common in the mandible and the maxilla, respectively.