The effect of demographic and radiographic variables on surgical difficulty of impacted mandibular third molar: A prospective observational study.

Objective: Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of varies demographical and radiographical variables including retromolar space on surgical difficulty of impacted mandibular third molar.

Patients and methods: Materials and Methods: Materials and methods: This prospective observational study included a total of 53 patients who underwent surgical removal of impacted lower third molars. The independent variables included demographic data (age, sex) and radiographic findings (Winter's angulation, Pell and Gregory's classification, and retromolar space), retromolar space was measured from the anterior border of mandibular ramus and the distal surface of mandibular second molar in millimeter. Dependent variables were surgical difficulty determined by technique and operation time.

Results: Results: There was a statistically significant relationship between the retromolar space and Pell and Gregory's classification with the duration of surgery and technique of extraction. There was a non-significant difference in the duration of surgery among the age, sex of patients and angulation of impacted teeth.

Conclusion: Conclusions: This study shows that the retromolar space and Pell and Gregory's classification have a strong influence in lower third molar surgical difficulty.