Pattern of Angulations and Common Indications for Extraction of Impacted Mandibular Third Molar at KMU-Institute of Dental Sciences, Kohat
Abstract
Background: The extraction of an impacted mandibular third molar (MTM), with associated pathologies or clinical manifestations is an important and one of the most frequent decisions in dentistry. The angle formed by the longitudinal axis of second and third molar is used to determine angulation of impacted MTM. The aim of this study was to identify the pattern of angulations of impacted mandibular third molar and common indications for extraction associated with these angulations.
Material and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Khyber Medical University Institute of Dental Sciences, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) from November 2017 to July 2018. A total of 349 patients presenting with impacted mandibular third molars were included in this study. Name, age, gender, address, the angulation of the impacted tooth and the indication for extraction of the impacted tooth were recorded. Data comprising of qualitative and quantitative variables were analyzed using SPSS version 17.
Results: Out of 349 patients, 206 were male and 143 females, with the male to female ratio of 1.4:1. The age range of the patients was from 18 years to 60 years with a mean age of 26 ± 6 years. The most common age group with impacted third molar was ≤ 25 years followed by 26 to 30 years’ age group. The most common angulation was mesioangular followed by vertical, horizontal and distoangular impacted mandibular third molar. Pericoronitis was the most common indication for extraction in all angulations except horizontal impaction where root resorption of the second molar was more common.
Conclusion: Mesioangular is the most common angulation in impacted mandibular third molars. Pericoronitis is the main indication for all angulations of impacted mandibular third molars except horizontal angulation, occurring mostly in the third decade of life.
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