Prevalence of Distal Cervical Caries in Mandibular Second Molar caused by impacted third molar

Aim: To analyse early recognition of the distal cervical caries of mandibular second molar caused by impacted mandibular third molar, to correlate oral health and caries status and to find out the average age groups and gender affected by impacted third molar Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 300 participants was conducted over a 15-month period at Rehmat Memorial Hospital, Abbottabad. 300 participants having impacted third molar having distal cervical caries in mandibular second molar were analyzed clinically and radiographically. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23.0 Results: the demographic data of 300 patients with impacted mandibular third molars were analyzed. 64% were male and 36% female that have extractions due to impaction. Caries caused in more than half of participants by mesioangular impaction, which was 52%, 3% due to distoangular, 26% due to distal, and 18% due to horizontal impaction. In 63.25% of cases, teeth were lost due to caries, periodontitis caused 20.25% of tooth loss, pericoronitis 7.75%, orthodontics 3.75%, prosthodontics 1.2%, trauma 1%, and other factors were 2.5%. study reveals that 30.5 % of the extractions were done from 21 and 30 years and 23 %of extractions were performed. 40% of those who took part in the study did not brush their teeth. Socioeconomic status also has a great impact on tooth extractions. Conclusion: After conducting this study, it was concluded that there was a relationship between the prevalence of distal cervical caries in mandibular second molars and the placement of neighbouring impacted mandibular third molars. As a result, the extraction of mandibular third molars should be done to avoid cavities and premature tooth loss in the neighboring molar. Key words: Third molar impaction, distoangular, distal cervical caries, extraction, 2nd molar caries

Comparison of Digital OPG and CBCT in Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with Inferior Nerve Injury during Mandibular Third Molar Surgery

Background: Pre-operative radiographic assessment of the anatomical relationship between the roots of the mandibular third molar and the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) is a must to minimize the risk of IAN injury during surgery. Objectives: To compare the radiographic signs of digital orthopantomogram (OPG) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). An additional objective was to assess the cortex status between the mandibular canal and third molar on CBCT images in relation to the demographic characteristics, region (right or left side), and angulation of mandibular molar. Methodology: In this retrospective study, a total of 350 impacted mandibular third molars with a close relationship between the inferior alveolar canal (IAC) and impacted mandibular third molars on digital OPG were further referred for CBCT imaging for assessment of the position of the mandibular canal. The study was conducted between August 2018 and February 2020. Digital OPGs were evaluated for radiographic signs like interruption of the mandibular canal wall, darkening of the roots, diversion of the mandibular canal, and narrowing of the mandibular canal. The age and sex of patients, site of impacted third molar, Winter’s classification of mandibular third molar, position of IAC relative to impacted molar, and the radiographic markers of OPG were assessed for cortical integrity using CBCT. Chi square testing was applied to study the values of difference and binomial logistic regression was done to assess the factors associated with cortication. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Among 350 patients, 207 (59.1%) were male and 143 (40.9%) were female with a mean age of 36.8 years. The most common OPG sign was interruption of white line, seen in 179 (51.1%) cases. In total, 246 cases (70.3%) showed an absence of canal cortication between the mandibular canal and the impacted third molar on CBCT images. Cortication was observed in all cases with a combination of panoramic signs which was statistically significant (p = 0.047). Cortication was observed in 85 (50.6%) cases where IAC was positioned on the buccal side, 11 (16.9%) in cases of inferiorly positioned IAC, and just 8 (7.6%) for cases of lingually positioned IAC which was statistically significant (p = 0.003). Statistically insignificant (p > 0.05) results were noted for cortex status in CBCT images with regards to the age, sex, site, and angulation of impacted third molars. Conclusion: CBCT imaging is highly recommended for those cases where diversion of the mandibular canal is observed on OPG and when the roots are present between canals.

The Correlation between Impacted Third Molar and Blood Group

Background. Blood type is among the most important genetical characteristics of any individual and is shown to be correlated with the development of a variety of illnesses including dental diseases. Finding the association of ABO and Rh blood groups and impacted tooth is important in order to predict which population is more vulnerable to grow impacted third molars that could lead to making better intervention. The present investigation tried to take a small step in that regard, by evaluating the correlation between ABO and Rh blood groups and the most commonly impacted tooth, bony impacted third molars among Iranian individuals. Methods. The investigation was done retrospectively on patients who were referred to the Department of Oral Radiology, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran. The patients were classified according to their blood groups, and 40 patients were randomly selected for each blood type. Therefore, the impaction of their third molars was evaluated, and statistical analyses were done in order to find any association. Results. A total of 320 participants contributed to the study; 136 (42%) were males and 184 (57%) were females. The mean age was 29 ± 6 years. Among all participants, 205 (64%) had no impacted third molar, 26 (8%) had one impacted third molar, 43 (13%) had 2 impacted third molars, 5 (1%) had 3 impacted third molars, and 41 (12%) had 4 impacted molars. Conclusion. According to the results of the present study, nearly one out of three individuals has at least an impacted third molar in the Iranian population, being more prevalent in individuals between 20 and 30 years old. The evaluation of the relationship between the blood group and impacted third molar revealed that blood groups have no association with the impacted third molars. However, more studies with higher and diversified participants should be done to find comprehensive results.

Effect of submucosal injection of ketorolac versus dexamethasone on postoperative pain after third molar surgery: a randomized clinical trial

Background One of the most common dentoalveolar surgeries is the removal of impacted third molars. Moderate to severe pain is predictable after these surgeries, usually leaving the patient in need of an effective analgesic for at least 24 h. Corticosteroids and NSAIDs are well-known medications used to reduce pain. This prospective, randomized clinical trial aimed to assess the effectiveness of two types of analgesics, ketorolac and dexamethasone, on pain experienced after unilateral impacted third molar surgery. The analgesics were injected sublingually after profound anesthesia was confirmed in 60 healthy adult patients. During this study, the patients were divided into three groups. The patients in group K received 1 mL of ketorolac (30 mg), while the patients in group D received 1 mL of dexamethasone (4 mg) sublingually. The patients in group C (the control group) received 1 mL of normal saline solution as a placebo. Results The mean pain scores reported by the patients in groups K and D were significantly lower than group C (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, respectively). However, the difference between groups D and K was not significant (P = 0.158). The mean number of analgesics taken by patients in groups K and D 24 h after surgery was significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.05). At 48 and 72 h postoperatively, however, the difference was not significant between the study groups (P > 0.05). The mean time of the first analgesic taken by the patients in groups K and D was 200.94 and 214.74 min after surgery, respectively. Exhibiting a significant difference, it was 132.65 min for the patients in group C (P = 0.003). Conclusions Under this study’s limitations, preoperative sublingual injection of ketorolac and dexamethasone were similarly effective in pain control after impacted third molar surgery.

Comparison of CBCT and panoramic radiography for the assessment of bone loss and root resorption on the second molar associated with third molar impaction: a systematic review

Objective: To investigate whether the use of cone beam CT (CBCT) changes the diagnosis of external root resorption (ERR) or marginal bone loss (MBL) involving a second molar adjacent to an impacted third molar. Methods: A systematic search was applied in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, Google Scholar, OpenGrey, and ProQuest. Studies assessing the detection of ERR or MBL in a second molar adjacent to an impacted third molar through CBCT and panoramic radiography (PAN) were included. Prevalence and agreement between PAN and CBCT on the detection of ERR and MBL were collected. The risk of bias was assessed using the MAStARI. Results: A total of 593 papers were identified, and after a 2-phase selection, 5 studies were included in the narrative synthesis. Regarding ERR, its prevalence in PAN was reported from 5.31 to 19.5% and from 22.8 to 62.0% in CBCT. The percentage of agreement varied from 28.5 to 74.0%. The prevalence of MBL varied from 21.9 to 62.9% in PAN, while those values varied from 21.6 to 80% in CBCT images. The percentage of agreement between PAN and CBCT for the detection of MBL ranged from 66.0 to 85.0%. Four studies presented low risk of bias and one had moderate risk. Conclusions: More ERR and MBL are assessed in CBCT compared to PAN. There is a considerable agreement between PAN and CBCT assessment of ERR and MBL, however, mostly related to the absence of the pathology rather its presence.