Topographic Association of the Inferior Dental Canal with Different Patterns of Impacted Third Molar Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography: A Cross-Sectional Study
Keywords:
Inferior dental canalAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) based evaluation of the intimate relationship between impacted third molar teeth and the Inferior Dental Canal (IDC) before its surgical removal.
METHODOLOGY: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on patients visiting the radiography department at Khyber College of Dentistry between January 2022 and January 2023. The sample size calculated was 200 patients. The age range was 25-45 years. CBCT images were obtained using the Planmeca dental system at 90 kVp. The 3-D generated view was used to determine the Maglione (CBCT-based Inferior Dental Canal (IDC) intimacy 3rd molar), Winter's, and Gregory's classifications for the angulation, location, and space of impacted teeth. The data were analyzed using SPSS 16, with a level of significance of of P? 0.05.
RESULTS: The average age group was 29.6±5 years. The male-to-female ratio was 3:2. Winter classified most impacted teeth as vertically affected. Pell/Gregory classified most of the impaction at position B and Class II for both genders. The P-value was similarly highly significant (p = 0.001) for IDC morphometric measures recorded in both genders. According to the Maglione classification, the fourth pattern (4a, 22%) was the most prevalent on CBCT. The most common radiographic symptom of IDC associated with an impacted third molar tooth was a combination of deflected root and deviated canal.
CONCLUSION: The Maglione Class 4(a) was the most common presentation of impacted third molar with preserved diameter of IDC among both genders.
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