Radiographic Assessment of Impacted Mandibular Third Molar- An Ex-vivo study

Background: Mandibular third molars are the most commonly impacted teeth and frequently associated with various pathologies including infection, traumatic, inflammatory and cystic lesions necessitating their surgical removal. To avoid complications, clinical and radiographic evaluation of impacted teeth is essential to provide information about tooth anatomy, position and condition of the surrounding bone.

Aim: To evaluate impacted mandibular third molars (IMTM) with the help of panoramic radiographs for the type of impaction, available third molar space, level of eruption, and relation to the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN).

Materials and Methods: Total 600 patients were selected and were divided into three groups; group I (18-27 years), group II (28-37 years), and group III (>38 years). Digital OPG were traced and evaluated for angulations, third molar space, level of eruption, and relation of third molar roots to IAN canal. The observations were subjected to statistical analysis using Chi-square test. Results: Out of 600 samples, 306 (51%) were males and 294 (49%) were females. Out of 1079 third molar sites, mesioangular impaction (40.22%) was the most common. Class II relation (84.24%) for third molar space and level A of eruption (45.69%) were most frequent. In true relation, interruption of the white line of the IAN canal (20.85%) was the most frequent relation of the IMTM roots to the IAN canal and others (false/no relation) was the most common in all relations.

Conclusion: Panoramic radiography is a relatively safe, reliable, inexpensive, and readily accessible technique for preoperative evaluation of IMTM and their relation to IAN canal.