Prevalencia de terceros molares mandibulares retenidos observados radiográficamente en pacientes atendidos en centro radiológico UCSG.

Abstract

Introduction: Third molars or wisdom teeth tend to erupt between the ages of 17 and complete their apical formation around the age of 25. Studies indicate that 60% of third molars do not erupt properly and, in many cases, do not erupt at all, a phenomenon known as dental impaction. Objective: To determine the most common factor associated with mandibular third molar impaction observed in panoramic radiographs of patients treated at the UCSG radiological center during the A- B 2024 semester. Materials and Methods: A quantitative, retrospective, and documentary study with a descriptive design. A deductive method was applied. The total sample size consisted of 311 panoramic radiographs of adult patients. A visual evaluation of the selected radiographs was conducted to determine the impaction of mandibular third molars, the presence of multiple, double, or triple roots; supernumerary roots, presence or absence; coronal or carious lesions; and impaction angle using Winter's radiographic classification, age, and sex. Results: 74.8% of impacted teeth presented insufficient space, while 93.8% of erupted teeth had adequate space (p < 0.001). Mesioangular position was observed in 38.3% of cases, horizontal in 22.2%, and vertical in 17.8%. On the other hand, 46.9% of erupted teeth were in a vertical position (p < 0.001). Conclusion: One of the most common factors associated with mandibular third molar impaction is the lack of space in the retromolar region, suggesting that a limitation in the available space significantly hinders the proper eruption of third molars.