COMPLETELY IMPACTED TEETH IN DENTATE AND EDENTULOUS LAWS

Panoramic radiographs from 1026 patients were examined for the presenc e of completely impacted teeth. The prevalence of completely impacted teeth in the edentulous jaw was lower than that in the dentate jaw in both the upper and lower jaws. The prevalence of completely impacted t hird molars in the edentulous jaw was also lower than that in the dent ate jaw. However, there was no difference in the prevalence of complet ely impacted canine teeth and completely impacted anterior maxillary s upernumerary teeth (mesiodens) in the edentulous jaw. These findings m ay indicate that completely impacted canine teeth and impacted anterio r maxillary supernumerary teeth (mesiodens) are not influenced by the loss of erupted teeth.