ISSN: 2640-2343
Authors: Nagaveni NB* and Ashwini KS
Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of impacted primary molars including both first and second molars in children of Indian ethnicity. Materials and Methods: The present study included children with age ranging from 3 to 15 years who reported to Dental Outpatient wing, Karnataka ENT Hospital and Research centre, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India for their dental problems during the period from 2020 to 2022. Orthopantomograph radiographs of children were investigated for the prevalence, unilateral or bilateral occurrence and ratio between two genders found with impacted primary mandibular molars were recorded and the data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis using descriptive statistics. Results: The present study recorded a total of five cases of impacted primary mandibular molars among Indian children. In one case, first primary molar was involved (20%) and remaining four cases were associated with second molars (80%). No bilateral occurrences of impaction were observed. Four cases occurred on the left side (80%) and one on the right side (20%). Three cases were noticed in males (60%) and remaining two cases in girls (40%). Regarding the level of the impaction, two cases were classified as extremely severe (Type III) (40%), two as severe (Type II) (40%), and one as moderate (Type I) (20%). Pertaining to treatment, none of the cases received treatment. When assessing the condition of the succedaneous premolars, two patients exhibited distal drifting of the second premolar tooth bud towards the second primary molar. In one case malformed second premolar was erupted clinically and in another case odontoma formation was noticed, and in one case, second premolar was erupted buccally. Conclusion: Occurrence of ankylosed and impacted primary molars does exist and hence all clinicians should be aware of its occurrence as treatment of this condition requires early diagnosis followed by meticulous management including a multidisplinary approach. More research including large number of epidemiological studies are highly warranted on this domain to formulate new diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines.
Keywords: Impacted Primary Molars; Mandibular Molars; Orthopantomograph; Prevalence; Submerged Molars
