Clinical presentation of impacted third molar tooth and its effect on the adjacent tooth, in Lusaka, Zambia

Abstract

Impacted tooth is a tooth which is completely or partially unerupted and is positioned against another tooth, bone or soft tissue so that its further eruption is dependent on its anatomical location. The prevalence of third molar impaction ranges from 16.7% to 68.6%. This study aimed at evaluating the clinical presentation of impacted third molar tooth and its effect on adjacent tooth. Objectives of the study were to determine the pathology of second molar and surrounding structures associated with third molar impaction and to determine the type of treatment modalities for impacted third molar and the adjacent tooth. The study revealed 81% of third molar impactions were associated with the mandibular arch and 68% of these were located on the right side of the mandibular arch. Clinical changes identified in this study were, 69% dental caries, while 76% was pain and swelling. Treatment for impacted third molar was surgical extraction, while adjacent molar was treated by supportive care. The diagnostic modality for third molar impaction was found to be intraoral radiology. Right mandibular arch is the commonest site for third molar impaction, and dental caries, pain, and swelling are the clinical presentations. Gum disease, periodontal pocket in the second molar and proximal dental caries in second molar were the pathological changes seen in the second molar adjacent to the impacted third molar in this study. Majority of the participants were diagnosed by an intraoral imaging procedure and surgical extraction was the mainstay treatment modality.