Hilal Yalın ÖZDEMİR, Emrecan KOÇYİĞİT, Ali ALTINDAĞ
Medical Science and Discovery - 2026;13(6):110-116
Objective: This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical distribution of impacted teeth within a large Turkish population and to investigate their associations with age, sex, and radiographically detectable pathologies. Methods: A total of 10,000 panoramic radiographs from patients attending the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology at Necmettin Erbakan University were evaluated. Impacted teeth were categorized by type, and associated radiographic findings-including external root resorption of adjacent teeth, secondary dental caries, and features suggestive of dentigerous cysts-were documented. Descriptive statistics were employed, and the associations between pathological status, demographic variables, and tooth type were analyzed using chi-square tests (p < 0.05). Results: The overall prevalence of impacted teeth was 20.9% (2,088/10,000 patients), with 8,279 impacted teeth identified. Third molars constituted the overwhelming majority of cases, whereas impacted canines and premolars were infrequent. While 81.9% of impacted teeth appeared radiographically asymptomatic, 18.1% exhibited at least one pathological finding. External root resorption (6.2%), adjacent dental caries (5.9%), and findings suggestive of dentigerous cysts (5.9%) were the most prevalent complications. Pathological associations were statistically significant regarding sex (p < 0.001) and age (p = 0.008), whereas no significant correlation was observed with the tooth group (p = 0.301). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that tooth impaction is a prevalent condition, occurring in 20.9% of our study cohort, with third molars representing the vast majority of cases. Notably, 18.1% of identified impacted teeth were associated with radiographically evident pathology, most notably external root resorption, secondary caries, and features concerning for dentigerous cysts. The significant association between pathological findings and both age and sex suggests that high-risk demographic groups may require more vigilant monitoring. We conclude that panoramic radiography remains an essential, cost-effective diagnostic tool for the early detection of impacted teeth. Clinicians should prioritize the systematic evaluation of these teeth to mitigate potential morbidity, as timely intervention is paramount to safeguarding the health of adjacent dental and alveolar structures.
