Dental radiographic features of impacted third molars and some management implications

The objective of the study was to determine the principal dental radiographic features of impacted third molars and to highlight some management implications, 255 periapical radiographs belonging to 197 patients with the clinical records were examined. The age of the subjects, sex, and degree of impaction, inclination, depth, mesiodistal space and associated pathology were documented as well as the number of roots and their relationship to the neurovascular bundle. The mean age was 23.4 years with more female teeth (152, 59.6%) than male (103, 40.4%). Majority were partially erupted (223, 91.4%) with vertical impaction most commonly seen in 80 teeth (31.4%). Over half of the teeth (135, 52.9%) had no obvious relationship with the inferior alveolar neuro-vascular bundle and where this existed, darkening of the root was the most common radiographic indicator (55 teeth, 21.6%). Most of the teeth (54.9%) had no obvious pathologic changes associated. In those with pathologic changes, periodontal bone loss and a wide follicle were most commonly observed (44 teeth or 17.3% in both cases). Older subjects had significantly more periodontal bone loss (p = 0.001). Periapical radiographic examination can reveal vital information for treatment planning of impacted teeth and the monitoring of asymptomatic teeth.