ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

European Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 2022 August;6(2):63-70

DOI: 10.23736/S2532-3466.21.00275-7

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Assessment of lower third molar impaction in association with angle’s classification of malocclusion

Christos SIMIS ¹ ✉, Evmorfia FOTAKIDOU ², Thomai KATSAROU ³, Demos KALYVAS ⁴

¹ Department of Oral Surgery, 401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece; ² Department of Orthodontics, 401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece; ³ Hellenic Army General Staff, Athens, Greece; ⁴ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the possible correlation of angle’s classification of malocclusion with the angle/depth of impaction and the retromolar space in a Greek Athenian population of 401 General Military Hospital of Athens (Athens, Greece) and the possible effect of demographic characteristics of patients (gender, age).
METHODS: Two hundred fourteen impacted mandibular third molars and panoramic radiographs of patients with available angle’s classification of malocclusion were reviewed. The positions of impacted teeth were documented according to the classifications of Pell and Gregory/Winter determined only at the radiological level (retrospective analysis). Using an electronic protractor, the same researcher measured the angle of impaction of the lower third molars relative to the second lower molars (Winter Classification) as well as the depth of impaction/retromolar space (Pell and Gregory).
RESULTS: No correlation was seen in the wisdom tooth inclination angle between all classes (H=5952, P=0.114>0.05). No correlation of the depth of impaction of the lower wisdom tooth and angle’s classification was seen (H=8221, P=0.222> 0.05). A statistically significant correlation was found between the retromolar space and angle’s classification (χ²=14.822, P=0.022<0.05). Regarding the demographic characteristics of patients, there is no effect (H=4.898, P=0.179>0.05), (χ²=2.573, P=0.462>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: There is no correlation between the lower third molar and angle’s classification. The only significant correlation is between the retromolar space and patients with angle’s classification of malocclusion in the female population.

KEY WORDS: Malocclusion; Molar; Greece