Anatomical and Radiological Investigation of Dry Bone Adult Mandibles Having Impacted Third Molar Teeth.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of the impacted mandibular third molars in dry bones adult mandibles.

METHODS: The 198 dry bones adult mandibles gathered from the bone collections in Laboratory of the Anatomy Department of Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine were macroscopically examined for the presence of impacted mandibular third molars. The genders of the adult bones were unknown. The adult mandibles having impacted third molars were photographed with Canon 400B (55 mm objective). The mandibles having impacted third molars were also radiographically examined with orthopantomography (a dental radiographic technique, kV 60, mA 2.0) in radiology unit of Faculty of Dentistry, Ege University. The impacted teeth were grouped according to their position and degree of impaction.

RESULTS: The each of 2 of 198 adult mandibles (2/198; 1.01%) was having an impacted 3rd molar teeth. These 2 molar teeth were belonged to class 1, B and partially buried, vertically oriented. The first impacted 3rd molar teeth was located on the left side of the one mandible and the second one on the right side of the other mandible.

CONCLUSION: The present study provides information about impacted mandibular 3rd molar in dry bones.