Prevalence of Impacted Teeth and Their Radiographic Signs in Panoramic Radiographs of Patients Referred to Hamadan Dental School in ۲۰۰۹

Statement of the problem: Removal of impacted third molars is the most common oral surgical procedure. Many investigators have questioned the necessity of removal in patients who are free of symptoms or associated pathologies. There are currently no data on the prevalence of impacted teeth and associated pathologies in the Hamadani population. Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the status of impacted teeth and to determine the frequency and type of pathological conditions associated with these impacted teeth. Materials and methods: This study included ۹۰۰ patients who were referred to Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Hamadan Dental School for panoramic radiography. The age range of the patients was ۱۴‒ years linical and radiographic examinations were carried out. The angulations of impaction, caries and root resorption of the adjacent teeth and increase in the pericoronal space were determined. Results: A total of ۱۶۲ patients presented with at least one impacted tooth and ۷۲ patients presented with at least one semi-impacted tooth. Male to female ratio was ۳.۹ to ۳.۳. Among the impacted teeth, mandibular and maxillary third molars were the most common (۸۰%), followed by maxillary canines (۱۸%). Approximately ۴% of teeth adjacent to impacted and semi-impacted teeth had root resorption. Carious lesions were also found on the distal surface in approximately ۳% of second molars. Pathological lesions were found in approximately ۴% of impacted and semiimpacted teeth. Conclusion: The prevalence of impacted teeth was high, and there was a predilection for impacted third molars in the mandible. Caries, root resorption and pathological lesions were seen in relation to the impacted teeth.