Incidence of dental caries and pericoronitis associated with impacted mandibular third molar-A radiographic study

Lack of space, limited skeletal growth, distal eruption of the dentition, vertical direction of condylar growth, increased crown size of impacted teeth, and the late maturation of third molar are listed among the major causes of third-molar impaction.1-3'1 Mandibular third molars erupt at 17 to 21 yrs of age. The mandibular 3 rd molar when impacted may acquire a range of patterns and position and can lead to diverse pathologies.-4,5' Dental caries, root resorption, cystic processes, periodontitis, periapical infection, benign or malignant tumors of odontogenic origin, and inflammatory processes -pericoronitis' are among the various pathologic conditions that are frequently associated with unerupted or partially erupted third molars. - Impacted mandibular 3rd molars that contact cemento-enamel junction of second molar place this tooth at risk of distal cervical caries.-12' In such situations, prophylactic removal of impacted tooth can benefit dental health of patients. The radiographs were analyzed if bilaterally mandibular molars were impacted they were recorded as separate observations. [...]in total 439 impacted teeth were taken up for observation from 236 radiographs.