Clinical and radiologic investigation of the incidence, complications, and suitable removal times for fully impacted teeth in the Turkish population

Objective: The aim of this research was to investigate the incidence of fully impacted teeth and their complications and to recommend suitable removal times for these teeth. Method and materials: One thousand patients who were referred to the Oral Surgery Clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, at Atatürk University were intraorally examined, and fully impacted teeth were determined from radiographs. The locations of fully impacted teeth and the complications they caused were recorded. A total of 110 patients with fully impacted teeth were divided into three age groups: 16 to 19 years, 20 to 35 years, and older than 35 years. Results: The incidence of fully impacted teeth was found to be 11.00%. The maxillary left third molars in females and the mandibular left third molars in males were the most frequently impacted teeth. Complications, such as pain, cysts, resorption of the impacted or adjacent teeth, infection, crowding, and axial changes in the position of the adjacent teeth, were associated with 28.42% of impacted teeth. Impaction was most frequent in the 20- to 35-year-old group. Conclusion: Extraction of fully impacted wisdom teeth before they cause complication is the ideal approach. However, in economically developing countries, such as Turkey, extraction of these teeth after complications occur is the most suitable approach because of restrictions in governmental budgets and the patients' poor socioeconomic conditions and fear of dentistry and oral surgery.