What is the Most Prevalent Type of Third Molar Impaction in Patients with Pericoronitis?

Background: Pericoronitis is a common pathological condition related to mandibular third molar teeth (wisdom teeth). It is an inflammation of the soft tissue surrounding the crown of an erupted or partially erupted tooth that causes pain and discomfort. We aimed to investigate the relation between third molar impaction types and pericoronitis.

Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed 60 patients referred to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of Mashhad Dental School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran in 2022 for totally and partially impacted mandibular third molar tooth surgery with pericoronitis. Their demographic data, including age and gender, was recorded. The impacted tooth's side and the symptoms of pericoronitis were identified using clinical examination and panoramic radiography imaging, based on the Pell & Gregory criteria and Peterson's classification. Third-molar tooth surgery was performed according to standard protocol. Patients' data were recorded and were analyzed using Excel 2019 and SPSS ver 21.

Results: The prevalence of pericoronitis symptoms in women was higher than in men (P< 0.001). The Class B type of third molar teeth impaction had a relation with the majority of pericoronitis cases (P< 0.001). Pericoronitis and systemic symptoms were more likely to occur in Class II than in Class I type of third molar teeth impaction (P< 0.001). The most frequent kind of impaction linked to pericoronitis and systemic symptoms such as malaise was mesio-angular (P< 0.001). The symptoms of pericoronitis were substantially correlated with smoking (P< 0.001).

Conclusion: Class B, Class II, and mesio-angular types of third molar impaction are linked with a higher risk of pericoronitis. This information might help in the early diagnosis and management of pericoronitis in patients with impacted third molar teeth.