PATHOSES ASSOCIATED WITH MANDIBULAR 3RD MOLARS SUBJECTED TO REMOVAL

Objectives. To measure the prevalence oi disease of mandibular third m olars referred for removal and to estimate the risk for development of pathoses for two cues. Study design. A prospective cohort study on mo lars subjected to removal was performed. The prevalence of different d iseases and the patient's age, angular position, and degree of impacti on of the molars were registered. Odds ratio for molars with different positions and impaction states were estimated. Results. Pericoronitis was found in 64% of cases, caries in the third molar in 31%, periodon titis in association with 8%, caries in the second molar in 5%, and ro ot resorption of the second molar with 1% of the molars with pathoses. Odds ratio was highest for distoangular molars (5.8) and for molars p artially covered by soft tissue (6.7). Conclusions. The odds ratio is about 22 and 34 times higher for molars partially covered by soft tiss ue than for molars completely covered by soft or bone tissue. For dist aongular molars the odds ratio is 5 to 12 times higher than for molars in other positions.