Cone-Beam Computed Tomographic Evaluation of Third Molar Status among Al-Hasa population, eastern province, Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Cross-sectional Study.

Third molar teeth have the highest incidence among all impacted teeth in oral cavity. This study is to evaluate Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for the Status of maxillary and mandibular third molar position based on winter, Pell & Gregory classification systems. In addition, association of mandibular third molar with the inferior alveolar nerve(IAN). Third molar teeth have the highest incidence among all impacted teeth in oral cavity. This study is to evaluate Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for the Status of maxillary and mandibular third molar position based on winter, Pell & Gregory classification systems. In addition, association of mandibular third molar with the inferior alveolar nerve(IAN). Among 500 individuals, 285 were male and 215 were female patients. Of the 500 CBCT images evaluated, 431 third molars were noticed impacted, 794 erupted and 775 third molars were missing. The most common angulation of impaction in the mandible was mesioangular position 55.5% followed by vertical impaction 22.4% and the most common angulation of impaction in the maxilla was the vertical 80.8% followed by mesioangular impaction 9.6%. The level of eruption of mandibular third molar was found to be 118 (46.5%) at position A, 60 (23.6%) at position B and 76(29.9%) at position C. Association of mandibular third molars with inferior alveolar nerve was found in 29.53% of teeth. The level of eruption of maxillary third molars found to be 6(3.4%) teeth with position A, 20(11.3%) teeth were in position B followed by 151(85.3%) teeth in position C. The status of third molar in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia within the study sample was characterized by 21.6% impactions which were more commonly in the mandible. The most common angulation was mesioangular in the mandible, vertical in the maxilla. The most common level of impaction in mandible was position A and Position C was the most common in maxilla. 29.53% of mandibular third molars associated with inferior alveolar nerve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]