Background: In recent centuries the wisdom tooth impaction of both jaws considered a public health problem, because lack of space to erupt normally or even to appear in the oral cavity, this sequela may be due to insufficient activity of the jaws over the centuries.
Aim of the Study: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of impacted wisdom associated with pathologies in relation to angulation of impaction in an adult Saudi population in Mecca area,
Materials and Methods: This is a cross sectional study in which records of 4000 patient's panoramic radiographs between 2017 -2018 from OPG & CEPH X-Ray Department. Umm Al-Qura University-Dental College and Hospital were reviewed. Finally, 411 out of 4000 patient's radiographs which showed impacted wisdom were selected. Data related to the type of impaction in both jaws and associated pathologies were then collected, tabulated and analyzed.
Results: Panoramic radiographs of 4000 patients aged 25-60 years were examined. A total of 411 (10.27%) demonstrate the presence of at least one impacted third molar. The study demonstrates that the highest number of impactions related to mandibular arch followed by maxillary arch then the least common cases with impaction related to both jaws. For the angulation of the impacted third molars, the most common angulation was vertical folwed by mesioangular and distoangular angulations were the less common, while the least common angulation was Horizontal. The most angulated wisdom associated with pathologies was the mesioangular angulation followed by vertical then the least common pattern distoangular and horizontal. The other angulations were negligible. The most common radiographic features of lesions associated with the third molar were radiolucent lesions Followed by radiopaque lesions. And the least common lesions were mixed lesions.
Conclusion: The radiographic features of impacted wisdom angulation could be correlated to their pathologies among all cases in Makkah region.