Epidemiological Status of 3rd Molars – Their Clinical Implications

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to describe the presence and impaction status of third molars in a Western U.P. population between age group of 17 and 24 years. A total of 3000 college students were clinically evaluated for the status of their 3rd molars. Out of these, the soft tissue associated with prophylactically extracted asymptomatic 3rd molars was histopathologically assessed. A definite eruption pattern of third molars was observed such that the percentage of teeth that were not erupted was much higher at age 17 years than at age 24 years. A decline in the eruption of teeth along with increased chances of impaction for teeth which were not erupted at 21 years was noted. Hence, it can be hypothesized that a substantial proportion of teeth impacted at 17 years do erupt fully, in the oral cavity with maximal chances of eruption between 17-21 years of age. The assessment of soft tissue changes in asymptomatically extracted teeth revealed definite histopathological alterations.