Prevalence and Position of Impacted Third Molars in Rafsanjan City in 2019- 2020: A Short Report

The presence of impacted teeth is a common phenomenon and is considerably prevalent in different societies. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and position of impacted third molars in Rafsanjan, Iran in 2019-2020.

In this cross-sectional retrospective study, 1200 panoramic radiographs were examined. The tooth position and angle of impaction was recorded and determined by two specialists. Independent t-test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis.

C vertical position with 1382 teeth (63.33%) and horizontal class II position in the mandible with 767 teeth (59.54%) were the most common. A statistically significant relationship was observed between the position of the mandibular third molars and the presence of lesion (p=0.001).

This study showed a relatively high frequency of impacted teeth in patients in Rafsanjan city. Therefore, given the occurrence of common complications such as caries and periodontal diseases caused by impacted teeth, accurate screening, timely diagnosis, and proper treatment are recommended.