Prevalence of Impacted Teeth in a South Indian Population using Cone Beam Computed Tomography: A Retrospective Study

Localisation of impacted teeth is essential for surgical and orthodontic management. The study objective was to evaluate the prevalence and type of tooth impaction in the jaws using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The CBCT records of subjects between 2018 and 2020 were retrieved from our institution archives and examined by two oral radiologists. A total of 760 CBCT scans were evaluated, of which 140 (18.4%) scans had impacted teeth. From the 140 CBCT scans, 216 impacted teeth were identified. Maximum impactions were in the age group of 21–30 years. Third molars were the most commonly impacted teeth (66.2%), followed by canines (23.6%), supernumerary teeth (4.6%), premolars (3.2%), incisors (1.4%), and second molars (0.9%). Among the impacted canines, 53% were buccally impacted, 43% were palatally impacted and other impactions were 4%. Among the third molars, mesioangular impactions were the most frequent (41.2%), followed by horizontal (28%), vertical (16.7%) and distoangular impaction (4.1%). The most frequently impacted teeth were the third molars, followed by canines. Canine impactions were more frequent in the maxilla, while third molar impactions were thrice as common in the mandible compared to the maxilla. Mesioangular third molar impactions were the commonest, followed by horizontal, vertical and distoangular.