Prevalence and Characteristics of Impacted Third Molars in a Kosovar Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The goal of this randomized cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence of impacted third molars in the Kosovar population and to assess the site of impaction using the Winter and the Pell and Gregory classifications. Methods and Results: A total of 5515 digital panoramic radiographs (PANs) were reviewed to determine the number of impacted third molars, their angulation, and depth. The age range was from 18 to 77 years (29.3 +/- 12.8 years). The prevalence of impacted third molars in the sample of the Kosovar population was 73.7%. Of all PANs, one or more impacted third molars were observed in a total of 710 PANs, including 296(41.7%) in men and 414(58.3%) in women, with a sex ratio of 1:1.4; this difference was not significant (P=0.616). The mandible exhibited a substantially greater prevalence of impacted third molars than the maxilla 62.1% vs. 37.9% (P=0.001). In the mandible, significantly higher frequencies of third molar impaction were noted in the distoangular and vertical positions (36.9% and 33.5%). In the maxilla, the most common angulation of impacted third molars was mesioangular (52.8%). Most impacted third molars recorded a Class C depth of impaction (62.3%) followed by Class B (34.9%), and only 2.8% recorded a Class A depth of impaction. Conclusion: The samples of third molar impaction in the Kosovar population are characterized by a high prevalence of impaction, especially in the mandible. The most common angulation was the mesial in the maxilla as well as in the mandible. The most common level of impaction in the maxilla and mandible was level C.