Prevalence of Impacted Teeth among Young Adults: A Retrospective Radiographic Study

Objectives: The prevalence of impacted teeth fluctuates across various ethnicities and geographical regions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence and patterns of impacted teeth among patients living in the central part of Iran. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 3632 patients within the age group of 17-30 years. The frequency and pattern of the impaction were determined using orthopantomogram (OPG). Results: According to the results of the study, 56.3% of the patients were female (n=2046). Out of the 3632 OPGs, 1602 cases (44.1%) were detected with at least one impacted tooth. No significant difference was observed between the males (n=682; 42.6%) and females (n=920; 57.4%) in this regard (P=0.237). Furthermore, the third molars were the most common impacted teeth found in 1156 radiographs (31.8%) with no significant difference between the males (n=358; 30%) and females (n=798; 70%) (P=0.386). Mesioangular and distoangular impactions were detected to be the most frequent angulation of the impacted third molars in the mandible (49%) and maxilla (41%), respectively. Additionally, 357 (9.8%) and 78 (2.1%) cases showed at least one impacted maxillary canine and one impacted mandibular second premolar, respectively. Moreover, impacted ectopic teeth were observed in 11 (0.3%) individuals. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, the third molar was the most common impacted tooth observed in the people living in the central region of Iran, followed by canine and second premolar impaction. The prevalence of the third molar impaction in the females was nearly twice as much as that in the males.