ETIOLOGY AND PATTERN OF IMPACTED MANDIBULAR THIRD MOLARS — A STUDY

Mandibular third molar are the most commonly occurring impacted teeth. The reason for impaction can be lack of space, decreased skeletal growth and disproportionate crown size. Various symptoms can be associated with impacted third molars such as, pain, caries, pericoronitis, periodontal problems and root resorption. A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out on a total of 89 patients and on 100 mandibular impacted teeth over a period of 12 months. The age range was from 15 to 44 years mean age 25.7 years SD + 5.79 impacted teeth were more common in males than females. Mesioangular impaction was the most common angulation of impacted mandibular third molar and class II A was most common pattern according to Winter’s and Pell and Gregory classification. The most common presenting complaint was pain and caries of second and third molars followed by periodontal disease and pericoronitis.