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Prevalence of Mandibular Third Molars According to the Pell & Gregory and Winter Classifications

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Journal of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of mandibular third molar positions according to the Pell & Gregory and Winter classifications, and to verify the association between the two classification methods.

Material and Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted at dental imaging clinic, from January to March 2019. The inclusion criteria were third molars with complete rhizogenesis and the presence of the mandibular second molar. Patients under 16 years were excluded. Digital orthopantomography (panoramic radiography) radiographs of the mandibular third molars were analyzed and observed according to both Pell & Gregory and the Winter classifications, in addition to verifying if they were impacted. Data were submitted to chi-square test.

Results

and Statistics

In total, 1087 teeth were analyzed, and 1055 teeth were included in the study. The teeth were most commonly found to be in the mesioangulated position (41.8%). Higher frequency was observed for position IIB (26.4%). The prevalence of impacted teeth was 79.6%. There was a statistically significant association between the Winter classification and Pell & Gregory classification (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

It was concluded that 79.6% of the mandibular third molars were impacted. The most frequent classification of teeth was position IIB, and the mesioangulated position.

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Acknowledgment

We would like to thank prof. Dr. Pedro Henrique Gonçalves Holanda Amorim for the image granted to illustrate this article.

Funding

Not applicable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys. Diamantina, Rua da Glória, 187-Centro-Diamantina/MG-CEP, Minas Gerais, 39.100-000, Brazil

    Karina Kendelhy Santos, José Cristiano Ramos Glória & Dhelfeson Willya Douglas-de-Oliveira

  2. Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais. Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Frederico Santos Lages

  3. Private Practice. Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    César Alexandre Barroso Maciel

Authors
  1. Karina Kendelhy Santos
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  2. Frederico Santos Lages
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  3. César Alexandre Barroso Maciel
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  4. José Cristiano Ramos Glória
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  5. Dhelfeson Willya Douglas-de-Oliveira
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by all the authors. The first draft of the manuscript was written by all. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dhelfeson Willya Douglas-de-Oliveira.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics Approval

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee on Research with Human Beings of the Federal University of the Valleys of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri (CAAE # 00865118.7.0000.5108), and was conducted in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki revised in 2013. Since it were investigated only radiographs already taken, the need for consent was waived by the Ethics Committee.

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Santos, K.K., Lages, F.S., Maciel, C.A.B. et al. Prevalence of Mandibular Third Molars According to the Pell & Gregory and Winter Classifications. J. Maxillofac. Oral Surg. 21, 627–633 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12663-020-01473-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12663-020-01473-1

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