Epidemiologic panorama of lower third molar

The aim of this study was to determine the ratio of the impacted lower third molar. 15.926 Libyan natives reported to Oral Surgery Department-Central Dental Clinic-Tripoli from 1989 to1992. 18.81% of them were complaining of different symptoms related to the wisdom tooth. Results of this study showed that 23.80% had fully impacted lower third molar, whereas 76.20% were partly erupted. The position of lower third molar has been classified on vertical impaction in 31.86%, mesio-angular impaction in 23.89%, horizontal impaction in 14.42%, disto-angular impaction in 6.45%, lingu-angular impaction in 8.34%, bucco-angular impaction in 14.99% and atypical impaction in 0.05%. Recurrent pericoronitis was found to be 37.84%, the most frequent reason for lower third molar removal in our patients. Pain- related directly to wisdom tooth, was diagnosed in 6.03% of patients. The incidence of unrestorable caries was found to be 18.90%. Conservative treatment was provided for 741 patients. We conclude that the results obtained from this study indicate that surgical removal of the lower third molar is the most common intervention required for our patients