ANTERIOR ARCH CROWDING —A POSSIBLE PREDICTOR FOR MANDIBULAR THIRD MOLAR IMPACTION

Authors

  • M Junaid Lakhani
  • Wahab Kadri
  • Hassan Mehdi
  • Houshang Sukhia
  • Asma Bano
  • Sania Yaqoob

Abstract

Background: Impaction of the 3rd molar is a high incident problem occurring in up to 73% ofyoung adults in Europe. Appropriate follow-up routines and optimal timing for surgicalremoval of the 3rd molars can be established in patients judged to be at increased risk ofimpaction. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for mandibular 3rd molarimpaction in adolescent orthodontic patients and to establish anterior arch crowding as apredictive model for mandibular 3rd molar impaction. Methods: Pre-treatmentOrthopantomogram (OPG) of 158 orthodontic patients with the evidence of anterior archcrowding on pre-treatment study models were evaluated for mandibular third molar position.Results: Out of 158 patients, 45 were male and 113 were female. Ninety-seven (61%) of thepatients showed anterior arch crowding with a space discrepancy of 5–10 mm calculated onthe pretreatment study models. Fifty-seven patients showed 107 third molar impactions.Anterior arch crowding in these patients was ranging from 7–10 mm. Out of 107 impactedthird molars 73 were Mesioangular 14 were Distoangular 6 were Vertical and 14 wereHorizontal. Conclusion: If the arch size is smaller as compared to the tooth size the evidenceof lack of space would be there in anterior segment as crowding and in posterior segment as3rd molar impaction.Keywords: Mandibular third molar impaction; anterior arch crowding

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Published

2011-03-01