Variation in Anatomy and Position of Mandibular Third Molars in South Indian Population

Purpose: To determine the anatomy and position of mandibular third molars clinically and radiologically using Panoramic radiographs among the subjects from the age group 15 to 25. Method: A sample of 240 cases was selected. Cases were then classified according to the age groups and the total number of erupted, impacted and missing teeth was calculated. A table was created based on the calculated data and results analysed. Results: The results are that overall of the 240 cases examined, 57.92% of the mandibular left and 58.33% of the mandibular right was erupted, 32.5% of the mandibular left and 32.5% of mandibular right was impacted. The mandibular left molar was missing in 9.58% of the cases and in the right it was missing in 9.17% of the cases. Conclusion: This study shows that mandibular 3 molars had erupted in most cases.