Relationship between Third Molar Impaction and Extraction, and Awareness about the Associated Potential Risks

Third molar teeth usually erupt during the late adolescence or early adulthood and may cause various dental problems, such as impaction or overcrowding, if they do not erupt properly. This study aimed to explore the relationship between third molar impaction, and extraction, and to evaluate the impact of awareness about the associated potential risks and benefits on post-extraction complications.

A cross-sectional study was conducted at Baghdad College of Dentistry, targeting undergraduate dental students. A questionnaire was sent to 333 dental students. The collected data were then analyzed using SPSS version 27. The Spearman and Kendall's tau rank correlation coefficients were used to measure the strength and direction of the relationship among the variables.   

Third molar impaction was more common in individuals aged 19 to 21 years. A significant correlation was found between the age of onset of symptoms related to third molars and the occurrence of impaction (P=0.006, correlation coefficient=0.144). Also, a significant correlation existed between age and extraction of impacted third molars (P=0.01, correlation coefficient= 0.268). The linear regression R2 value indicated that 14.1% of the reduction in complications was attributed to the level of awareness regarding the associated potential risks and benefits.

This study highlighted the high prevalence of third molar impaction in young adults and the importance of its early detection and intervention. The findings underscored the significance of age and awareness in predicting and managing complications associated with impacted third molars.