PREVALENCE OF DISTAL SURFACE CARIES IN MANDIBULAR SECOND MOLAR ADJACENT TO IMPACTED THIRD MOLAR IN A SAMPLE OF ISMAILIA POPULATION: A CONE BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY STUDY

Introduction: Worldwide research has shown that mandibular third molars are themost often impacted teeth in the jaw, followed by maxillary canines then mandibularpremolars. Impacted third molars may be associated with several pathologies relatedto impacted tooth itself or adjacent second molar such as periodontal problems, rootresorption and distal caries of adjacent teeth. Aim: The purpose of the present studywas to determine the prevalence of distal surface caries in mandibular second molarsadjacent to impacted third molars in a sample of Ismailia population using CBCT.Methods and Methods: The present study was conducted on 196 unidentified CBCTscans selected from the archives of the Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Department,Suez Canal University. Demographic data regarding (gender), side of impactiondistribution and impaction angulation was assessed. Angulation of impacted third molarwas evaluated using Winter’s classification, then radiographic assessment for each scanwas carried out using On-Demand software to determine the presence and prevalenceof coronal and radicular caries on the distal surface of the second molar adjacent toimpacted mandibular third molars. Additionally, correlation of the associated riskfactors for caries occurrence was carried out. Results: The results of the current studyrevealed that mesio-angular impaction was the most frequent type of impacted thirdmolar (63.8%) followed by horizontal impaction (17.3%). The prevalence of DSCfor both coronal and radicular distal caries, was 8.7% with relatively higher femalepredilection and higher occurrence in association with mesio-angular and horizontaltypes of impactions. Conclusion: Cone Beam Computed Tomography being a threedimensionalimaging modality, is considered an accurate and precise radiographicmodality that can be reliably used for early detection of distal surface caries. Moreover,the presence of DSC in mandibular second molar adjacent to impacted third molarsamong Ismailia population is relatively low and is more related to mesio-angular andhorizontal type of impaction.