Prevalence of Pathologies Associated with Impacted Third Molars in Kosovar Population: an Orthopanthomography Study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of pathologies associated with impacted third molars radiographically noticeable in a Kosovar population, as currently no data are available. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This was a retrospective study of 5515 panoramic images of patients who visited the University Dentistry Clinical Center of Kosovo. Of these 5515 patients, 2368 were males and 3147 were females. The age range was from 18 to 77 years. We reviewed panoramic images in order to determine the number of pathologies associated with impacted third molars. The following radiographic lesions were recorded: caries of impacted teeth and/or adjacent tooth, root resorption of adjacent tooth, periodontal bone loss of adjacent tooth of more than 5mm below the cemento-enamel junction and an increase in pericoronar gap over 4mm. RESULTS: The prevalence of pathologies associated with impacted third molar in Kosovar population was 29.5%. Root resorption of adjacent tooth had the highest frequency of pathology 307 (23.7%). It was followed by periodontal bone loss of adjacent tooth of more than 5 mm 71 (5.5%) and caries 33 (2.5%). The lowest was an increase in pericoronar gap 15 (1.2%). CONCLUSION: The most common pathology was root resorption, with the highest incidence of pathology localized in the maxilla 159 (32.3%). The prevalence of periodontal bone loss, caries and increase in pericoronar gap was significantly lower. The findings of our research could have an impact on development of prevention strategies that will proficiently deal with pathologies that result from impacted teeth.