Assessment of Third Molar Impaction Pattern and Associated Clinical Symptoms in a Central Anatolian Turkish Population.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the pattern of third molar impaction and associated symptoms in a Central Anatolian Turkish population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 2,133 impacted third molar teeth of 705 panoramic radiographs were reviewed. The positions of impacted third molar teeth on the panoramic radiographs were documented according to the classifications of Pell and Gregory and of Winter. The presence of related symptoms including pain, pericoronitis, lymphadenopathy and trismus was noted for every patient. Distributions of obtained values were compared using the Pearson χ2 test. Nonparametric values were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 30.58 ± 11.98 years (range: 19-73); in a review of the 2,133 impacted third molar teeth, the most common angulation of impaction in both maxillaries was vertical (1,177; 55%). Level B impaction was the most common in the maxilla (425/1,037; 39%), while level C impaction was the most common in the mandible (635/1,096; 61%). Pain (272/705; 39%) and pericoronitis (188/705; 27%) were found to be the most common complications of impaction. Among 705 patients (335 males, 370 females), pericoronitis was more prevalent in males (101; 30%) and usually related to lower third molars (236; 22%). The retromolar space was significantly smaller in females (p < 0.05). Moreover, there was a significant difference in retromolar space for the area of jaw (maxillary: 11.3 mm; mandibular: 14.2 mm) and impaction level (A: 14.7 mm; B: 11.1 mm; C: 10.3 mm; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The pattern of third molar impaction in a Central Anatolian Turkish population was characterized by a high prevalence rate of level C impaction with vertical position. Pain and pericoronitis were the most common symptoms usually associated with level A impaction and vertical position.

Oral pain due to severe pre-eruptive intracoronal resorption in permanent tooth.

BACKGROUND: Pre-eruptive intracoronal resorption is a dental lesion located within the dentin. This defect is usually discovered incidentally on routine dental radiographs. Occasionally this process may be associated with oral pain in advanced lesions. CASE REPORT: This case report describes a 12-year-old boy whose chief complaint was a diffuse oral pain due to a severe pre-eruptive intracoronal resorption in a permanent second molar. The previous radiographs, taken at the age of nine years, showed no evidence of the lesion. After surgical exposure, a pulp-like tissue under the crown was removed and analyzed; subsequently the tooth was extracted due to extensive resorption. A follow-up of the unerupted third molar, still in formation process, allowed to see that it was favourably positioned for replacing the extracted molar.

Non-third molar related pericoronitis in a sub-urban Nigeria population of children.

BACKGROUND: The study will report on the prevalence, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of non-third molar related pericoronitis seen in children below the age of 15 years who report at the Pediatric Dental Clinic, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife over a 4½ year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective study of cases of pericoronitis affecting any tooth exclusive of the third molar diagnosed in the pediatric dentistry out-patient clinic in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife between January 2008 and June 2012. Pericoronitis was diagnosed using the criteria described by Howe. Information on age, sex, history malaria fever, upper respiratory diseases, tonsillitis, and evidence of immunosuppression were taken. Radiographs were taken in all cases to rule out tooth impaction and information on treatment regimen was also collected. RESULTS: The prevalence of non-third molar related pericoronitis was 0.63%. More females (63.6%) were affected. Chronic pericoronitis was the most common presentation (73.3%). No case was reported in the primary dentition and the premolar. No case was associated with tooth impaction and the tooth most affected was the lower right second permanent molar (35.7%). Bilateral presentation was seen in 36.4% patients. Herpetic gingivostomatitis was reported in association with one case. Chronic pericoronitis resolved within 3 days of management with warm saline mouth bath (WSMB) and analgesics, while acute/subacute resolved within 10 days of management with antibiotics, analgesics, and WSMB. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of non-third molar related pericoronitis is the low. The most prevalence type is chronic pericoronitis affecting the lower right second permanent molar.

Cellulitis on face in a patient with congenital afibrinogenemia.

Congenital afibrinogenemia is a rare coagulation disorder, with an estimated prevalence of 1 : 1,000,000, characterized by a complete absence to reduced level of circulating fibrinogen. This article presents a case of congenital afibrinogenemia, which presented as cellulitis on the face.

Angulation of mandibular third molars as a predictive factor for pericoronitis.

AIM: The aims of this study were to investigate the association between pericoronitis and the angular position, state of eruption, and the depth of impaction of mandibular third molars as well as to compare these findings with similar studies. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 242 patients ranging in age from 18 to 41 years of age suffering from pericoronitis were examined. Subjective and objective observations were recorded on a checklist that included the name, age, gender, type of pericoronitis and state of eruption, position of the affected tooth for each patient as well as any radiographic changes in the mandibular third molars. RESULTS: The peak age for the occurrence of pericoronitis was in the 21-25 year-old age group. The soft tissues adjacent to vertically inclined, partially erupted mandibular third molars at the level of or above the occlusal plane were the most commonly affected. There was a statistically significant association between radiographic changes and the mesioangular position of the tooth (p<0.002) and the age group of the subject (p=0.004), but the association was not statistically significant between the gender of the subject, type of pericoronitis, state of eruption, and depth of impaction. CONCLUSION: The soft tissues adjacent to vertically inclined, partially erupted mandibular third molars were more frequently affected by pericoronitis than teeth that are soft tissue impacted or erupted. Mesioangular erupted third molars were the teeth most frequently associated with bone loss. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The soft tissues at highest risk of developing pericoronitis are those adjacent to mandibular third molars that are partially erupted, in a vertical position, and erupted to the level of or above the occlusal plane.

Pericoronitis: treatment and a clinical dilemma.

Pericoronitis is an infection associated with impacted lower third molars that can necessitate the removal of these teeth. The clinical features of this condition are described and its treatment outlined, emphasising local measures. A case of pericoronitis in a 52-year-old patient is discussed, which illustrates the risks and benefits of removal of wisdom teeth; removal can lead to nerve damage, retention can precipitate serious, even life-threatening infection.

Association between mandibular third molar position and the occurrence of pericoronitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between mandibular third molar position and occurrence of pericoronitis. DESIGN: The systematic review was performed based on PRISMA criteria (Prospero: CRD42018102835). The electronic search was performed in Medline, Virtual Health Library and Web of Science (until August 2018), without language restriction. Two researchers independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed methodologic quality. Twenty-one articles were included in the review, comprising 6895 patients, with 1913 third mandibular molars being affected by pericoronitis. Ten studies were incuded in meta-analysis. RESULTS: The third molar in vertical position of Winter is the one with the greatest chance of presenting pericoronitis, compared to the other positions, while the horizontal position decreases this chance. There was no significant difference in the chance of pericoronitis between positions I and II of Pell & Gregory (OR: 0.29; IC: 0.07-1.23, I2 = 88%). Third molars classified in position A had greater chance of pericoronitis when compared to those in position B (OR: 7.13; IC: 1.31-38.74, I2 = 93%). The vertical position of the lower third molar is more associated with the occurrence of pericoronitis when compared to the other positions. CONCLUSIONS: Vertical position of the lower third molar is more associated with the occurrence of pericoronitis when compared to the other Winter' positions. Considering Pell and Gregory positions, position A had a greater chance of pericoronitis compared to position B. The prophylactic removal of lower third semi-erupted vertical molar or in position A is indicated to prevent pericoronitis.

Malaria and oral health.

Half of the world population resides in malaria-prone areas, and the disease is responsible for more than a million deaths annually. This is apart from the economic impact of the disease through resources expended towards treatment and prevention and the loss of manpower. In addition to the overt clinical signs and symptoms, the association of malaria with other diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV infection has been described. However few studies have attempted to investigate its relationship to oral diseases. This review provides an overview of the relevance of malaria to the mouth and adjacent structures. The need for further research is also emphasized.

The relationship between pericoronitis, wisdom teeth, putative periodontal pathogens and the host response.

PURPOSE: To review the literature concerning pericoronitis, in particular the nature of the lesion and its aetiology, what factors may be used to predict if some patients would benefit from early removal of third molars, and if a scoring system can be developed for this purpose. METHOD AND MATERIALS: A literature search using PubMed and the facilities of the Dublin Dental Hospital (DDH) library were used to gather the relevent information. PubMed lists all of the journals available in the DDH library and was used to identify relevent papers, which were then retrieved from the shelves and stacks with the help of library staff. The key word used was 'pericoronitis'. RESULTS: The studies reviewed assert that the bacteriology of pericoronitis is predominantly anaerobic in character, yet no causative species has been identified. Marker organisms for periodontitis were not generally isolated. Host factors examined in various studies were the inflammatory markers interleukin 1b and prostaglandin E2, and the immunological responses of neutrophils, macrophages, natural killer cells, T cells, helper T cells and suppressor/cytotoxic T cells. While all of these factors, with the exception of prostaglandin E2, tend to be elevated in cases of pericoronitis, both symptomatic and asymptomatic, no clearcut measurable entity has emerged that can be used as a predictive marker. CONCLUSION: A hypothesised scoring system to predict which patients would benefit from early removal of asymptomatic impacted lower third molars would be clinically advantageous in justifying prophylactic third molar surgery, but is not yet feasible or proven.

Conservative, non-surgical management of patients presenting with impacted lower third molars: a 5-year study.

Our aim was to find out what happened over a period of 5 years to fully or partially impacted mandibular third molars that were left alone. The change in emphasis towards non-intervention in patients with asymptomatic impacted wisdom teeth over the past few years was accompanied by considerable debate as to the eventual outcome of such teeth. Examination of a number of factors including smoking, extent of eruption, depth of periodontal pocket, and history of pericoronitis failed to show any predictive factors that would indicate which teeth would subsequently require removal. However, about one-third of the teeth in this series had to be removed within the 5-year period. Although this does not allow a 'lifetime extrapolation', it blurs the edges of our current thinking about asymptomatic wisdom teeth and certainly suggests that further (possibly longer term) studies need to be completed. It does, however, provide little support for the reintroduction of prophylactic removal of wisdom teeth.

Chronic inflammation around painless partially erupted third molars.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess the histologic host response in chronic, symptomless pericoronitis. STUDY DESIGN: Gingival mucosal (n = 20) and dental follicle (n = 20) samples were collected during extraction from patients with pericoronitis and clinically healthy control subjects. Antibodies-recognizing macrophages (CD68), natural killer cells (CD56), T cells (CD2), helper T cells (CD4), suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (CD8), and neutrophils (lactoferrin) were applied in a labelled streptavidin-biotin method by using a DAKO TechMate staining robot. RESULTS: Macrophage was the most numerous kind of cell in pericoronitis, but CD2+ T lymphocytes, with a normal CD4/CD8 ratio, were also increased (P < .01). Neutrophils were not increased and did not show signs of activation. Dental follicles did not contain increased numbers of inflammatory cells. CONCLUSION: This type of pericoronitis is a chronic/smoldering, rather than an acute/purulent, infection. Because of the chronic and often symptomless nature of pericoronitis, various long-term sequelae may result, which may lead to the need for extraction.

Symptoms of unerupted mandibular third molars.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the occurrence of symptoms in patients with unerupted mandibular third molars and to investigate the associated pathoses. STUDY DESIGN: Through a review of clinical records and periapical radiographs of completely unerupted and partially erupted mandibular third molars, a retrospective study was carried out. For each axial inclination, symptoms and pathoses associated with these teeth were analyzed. Statistical differences were tested by chi square analysis. RESULTS: Most of the patients were between 16 and 30 years of age. In 83% of cases, the mandibular third molars were partially erupted; in the other 17% of cases, the mandibular third molars were completely unerupted. Pain was the most frequent symptom in both groups. Pericoronitis was found mostly in third molar teeth with vertical and distal inclinations (P< .05), whereas caries was found mainly in mesially tipped third molars (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the patients were in the third decade of life. Partially erupted mandibular third molars had more symptoms than completely unerupted teeth. Pain and pericoronitis were the most common problems in patients with unerupted third molars.

Pericoronitis and tonsillitis: clinical and darkfield microscopy findings.

OBJECTIVE: Upper respiratory tract infections and tonsillitis and pharyngitis in particular increase the risk of lower third molar pericoronitis. The study was made to investigate clinical and microbiologic associations between pericoronitis and tonsillitis. STUDY DESIGN: The subjects were 20-year-old Finnish male conscripts. Thirty-eight patients had tonsillitis without and 33 patients had tonsillitis with a symptom-free erupting lower third molar; 27 patients had pericoronitis but healthy tonsils. All subjects were examined clinically. Bacterial samples were taken from healthy and diseased tonsils and from healthy and diseased third molar pericoronal pockets. The microbes were classified morphologically with the use of a darkfield microscope. RESULTS: Eighty-two percent of infected tonsils had deep crypts and 52% of them exudated pus compared with 36% (p < 0.001) and 0% (p < 0.001) in healthy tonsils, respectively. Infected lower third molars were less than half erupted and had on average 8.8 mm deep pericoronal pockets compared with pockets 5.5 mm deep recorded in symptom-free cases (p < 0.001). Spirochetes were more common in infected pockets than in symptom-free cases comprising 8.2% versus 3.0% of the total bacterial count (p = 0.044). Rods were more common in infected tonsils than healthy ones (8.9% versus 4.8%, p = 0.041). CONCLUSION: There were similarities in morphologic microbiota of pericoronitis and tonsillitis. However, clinical findings of tonsils did not appear to link with the findings of third molars.

Infections in elderly patients associated with impacted third molars.

The objective of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics of infections caused by impacted third molars in elderly persons. Infectious disorders (26 pericoronitis, 8 secondarily infected dentigerous cysts, 4 perimandibular abscesses with limited osteomyelitis, 2 chronic mandibular osteomyelitis, and 1 odontogenic skin fistula) associated with the impacted third molars impacted third molars were clinically investigated in 41 patients over 60 years of age. Twenty-nine causative teeth were located in the mandibular angle and nine in the ramus; the three remaining lesions (two cysts one pericoronitis) were associated with the maxillary third molar. Bone resorption was noted in most patients, and this caused the originally embedded tooth to become exposed intraorally. It was concluded that oral infection in elder persons are occasionally caused by retained impacted third molars with overlapping of other factors.

Pathoses associated with mandibular third molars subjected to removal.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the prevalence of disease of mandibular third molars referred for removal and to estimate the risk for development of pathoses for two cues. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective cohort study on molars subjected to removal was performed. The prevalence of different diseases and the patient's age, angular position, and degree of impaction of the molars were registered. Odds ratio for molars with different positions and impaction states were estimated. RESULTS: Pericoronitis was found in 64% of cases, caries in the third molar in 31%, periodontitis in association with 8%, caries in the second molar in 5%, and root resorption of the second molar with 1% of the molars with pathoses. Odds ratio was highest for distoangular molars (5.8) and for molars partially covered by soft tissue (6.7). CONCLUSIONS: The odds ratio is about 22 and 34 times higher for molars partially covered by soft tissue than for molars completely covered by soft or bone tissue. For distoangular molars the odds ratio is 5 to 12 times higher than for molars in other positions.

Gingival hyperplasia induced by diphenylhydantoin in a gorilla.

An adult male lowland gorilla had been treated with diphenylhydantoin for 6 months following several acute convulsive episodes. The gorilla remained clinically normal during that period. Then, for no apparent reason, it refused its usual diet. Physical examination revealed acute inflammatory gingival hyperplasia. Full mouth gingivectomy and antibiotic and analgesic therapy resolved the oral inflammation and the anorexia.

Prophylactic removal of impacted third molars: an assessment of published reviews.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate published reviews of the appropriateness of prophylactic removal of impacted third molars. DESIGN: Systematic review and critical appraisal of relevant reviews. METHODS: Computerised databases (Medline and Embase), the Index to Dental Literature, and the references of articles were searched to identify relevant reviews. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pathologies associated with impacted third molars and outcomes following surgical removal of third molars. RESULTS: Twelve published reviews were assessed. Major methodological problems in these include that authors did not describe review methods such as literature search strategy and criteria for inclusion of primary studies. Reviews with similar aims included different sets of primary studies as evidence. Details of primary studies quoted were seldom sufficient for readers to judge the reliability of the evidence. With the exception of two reviews with poorer quality, the reviews concluded that there is a lack of evidence to support the prophylactic removal of impacted third molars. Two decision analyses also concluded that, on average, patients' long-term wellbeing is maximised if extraction is confined to those impacted third molars with pathology. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of good evidence to support prophylactic removal, there appears to be little justification for the removal of pathology-free impacted third molars.

The cost, effectiveness and cost effectiveness of removal and retention of asymptomatic, disease free third molars.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: The study was undertaken to identify the least costly, most effective and most cost-effective management strategy for asymptomatic, disease free mandibular third molars. METHODS AND PATIENTS: A decision tree model of the outcomes of mandibular third molar retention and removal was constructed. Probability data for possible outcomes were obtained from a comprehensive literature review and entered into the decision tree. The cost to the NHS in treating each outcome was calculated. 100 patients attending the oral surgery clinics, University of Wales Dental Hospital rated the effect of each outcome on their own life. The cost and effectiveness data for each outcome were entered into the decision tree and the analyses were conducted by 'folding back' the decision tree based on the probabilities. MAIN FINDINGS: Mandibular third molar retention was less costly (170 Pounds), more effective (69.5 effectiveness units on a 100 point scale) and more cost-effective (2.43 Pounds per unit of effectiveness) than removal (226 Pounds, 63.3 and 3.57 Pounds respectively). These findings were sensitive to changes in the probability of pericoronitis, periodontal disease and caries. PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS: Mandibular third molar retention is less costly to the NHS, more effective for the patient and more cost-effective to both parties than removal. However, should the likelihood of developing pericoronitis, periodontal disease and caries increase substantially then removal becomes the more cost-effective strategy.

The mandibular third molar position as a predictive criteria for risk for pericoronitis: a retrospective study.

During the 6-month period from mid February 1988 to mid August 1988, 148 patients presented with 154 diagnosed cases of mandibular third molar pericoronitis. All patients were members of the recruit population stationed at the Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. Selected clinical parameters relating to the orientation and eruption status of these third molars were collected and analyzed. The goal was to obtain a predictive clinical profile of the impacted mandibular third molar (MTM) at greatest risk for pericoronitis in the young naval and Marine Corps personnel. The majority of pericoronitis cases, 120 of 148 or 81.0%, involved vertically oriented MTMs; of this total, 79.1% were erupted to the approximate height of the occlusal plane of the arch. The remaining 20.9% were at or below the height of contour of the adjacent tooth. Mesioangular impacted MTMs accounted for only 11.2% of pericoronitis cases. The remaining cases comprised distoangular and horizontally impacted MTMs (3.4% and 3.8%, respectively). Involvement by impinging maxillary dentition was observed in 39.7% of the vertically oriented MTMs, 56.2% of the mesioangular oriented MTMs, 40.0% of the distoangular MTMs, and 14.0% of the horizontally impacted MTMs. The mean value for occlusal coverage by a soft tissue operculum observed for all MTMs in this study was 49%. In the population studied, risk for pericoronitis appears to increase with greater vertical orientation and height of eruption. The absence of impinging maxillary dentition did not eliminate the risk of mandibular third molar pericoronitis. These data have implications for targeting treatment needs of naval and Marine Corps personnel who may be without dental support for extended periods of time.

Treatment of third molars in Finnish conscripts.

Third molar-related dental treatment was investigated in 14,500 Finnish 20-year-old male conscripts during their 8 to 11 months' time of service. One thousand five hundred ten conscripts needed dental treatment because of third molars. Four hundred thirty-two third molars were filled, whereas 1,881 third molars were extracted. Forty percent of the removed 1,072 mandibular teeth required tooth sectioning and/or buccal bone relief. Forty-eight percent of the patients lost military serving time (at mean 4.2 days per case), most often because of postoperative discomfort. The number of complications was low.