Non-Third Molar Impactions and Other Dental Anomalies in a University-Based Sample: A Retrospective Study

Dental impactions affect a large population of patients and result in significant long-term functional and esthetic compromise. Identifying dental impactions and their relationship with other dental anomalies may serve as an early diagnostic tool for these patients. A retrospective chart review was conducted on 564 subjects treated at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Each subject included in this investigation was treated in the post-graduate periodontics department for surgical exposure of at least one impacted tooth. Several dental anomalies of size, shape and number were identified. Of those represented in this study population, supernumeraries, congenitally missing teeth, peg laterals, and taurodontism were evaluated. The most common occurrence found in this study was a single dental impaction without any other dental anomaly. This occurred in 38% (172) of the subjects. Forty percent of subjects had more than one dental impaction with or without a corresponding anomaly. In 37% (167) of the subjects, a dental impaction was found in combination with another dental anomaly. Dental anomalies were found at a high frequency in this patient population, which is likely the reason for their initial referral to a periodontist. Supernumerary teeth were found in 20% (92) of subject. They most commonly occurred in the anterior maxilla where dental corresponding impactions were also most common. In 75% (69) of the subjects with supernumerary teeth, it was found directly adjacent to the impaction, this was statistically significant. Peg shaped lateral incisors occurred in 8% (36) of the study population. These malformed incisors were almost exclusively found directly adjacent to the impacted tooth. Congenitally missing teeth occurred in 9% (28) of subjects. There was a statistically significant relationship between impacted teeth and the proximity of the missing tooth. These missing teeth were found 79% (22) of the time, non-adjacent to the dental impaction. These anomalies have a relationship with dental impactions and can play a role in early diagnosis of impacted teeth.