Prevalence of impacted teeth in a Greek population

AIM: Τo determine the prevalence of impacted teeth in an adult Greek population, according to type, sex, and age. METHODS: The major source of data for this study was the orthopantomographic films and the physical examinations of 425 patients (202 males and 223 females) with impacted teeth. The elements that were examined and processed were relevant to the age, sex, total number of impacted teeth, and the type and frequency of impaction of each tooth. Moreover, the associated pathology, if any, of the impacted tooth was recorded. RESULTS: A total of 152 patients (35.8%) had one impacted tooth, 134 patients (31.5%) had two impacted teeth, and 139 patients (32.7%) had three or more impacted teeth; 777 (82.7%) impacted teeth revealed associated pathology. CONCLUSIONS: The third molars revealed the highest frequency of impaction (P<0.001); the number of impacted teeth of the mandible was larger than that of the maxilla (P<0.001), and the number of impacted anterior teeth in the maxilla was larger than that in the mandible (P<0.001). Cases of impacted posterior teeth were more numerous than anterior teeth (P<0.001). The majority of patients revealed pathological signs, which dictated the surgical removal of the impacted tooth/teeth. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd