Impacted teeth - 3rd molars Flashcards
When do you need to surgically remove a tooth?
when you cannot remove/extract a tooth conventionally:
- Gross caries so unable to use forceps and no application point for elevators
- Complex root morphology even if the crown is intact
- Retained roots below the alveolar bone so no point of application for elevators
- Impacted teeth
- Displaced teeth
- Ectopic teeth
- Pathology
What is impaction?
- occurs when there is prevention of complete eruption into a normal functional position due to lack of space or development in an abnormal position. This predisposes to pathological changes.
- this can involve only soft tissues or hard and soft tissues.
What is an ectopic tooth?
malpositioned due to congenital factors
What is a displaced tooth?
malpositioned due to presence of pathology
What is a completely unerupted tooth?
entirely covered by soft tissue and also partially/totally covered in alveolar bone
What is an ankylosed tooth?
fused with the alveolar bone, rare with 8s, occurs after middle age, tooth may not erupt at all
Generally, why do teeth become impacted?
lack of space in the arch as a consequence of evolutionary changes and lack of an abrasive diet
What are the most commonly impacted teeth?
the teeth which erupt latest:
- mandibular third molars
- maxillary canines
- mandibular premolars/canines
- maxillary incisors
- maxillary third molars
What does this radiograph show?
horizontally impacted partially erupted tooth 48 (LR8)
When do mandibular third molars emerge?
between 18-24 years but can be out with this range
How common is it for mandibular third molars to fail to develop?
fail to develop in 1:4 adults
What % of mandibular third molars are impacted?
72%
In the UK what guidelines are referred to for knowing when to refer a pt for third molar removal?
NICE (2000)
What is the most common indication for removal of mandibular third molars?
pericoronitis
What tooth has the most common incidence of caries due to an impacted mandibular third molar?
mandibular second molars with the third molar impacted against it, particualrly if it is mesioangularly impacted
What are some common indications for mandibular third molar removal?
- pericoronitis
- unrestorable caries
- cellulitis/osteomyelitis
- periodontal disease - particularly if over 30 years of age
- orthodontic reasons particularly if distalising maxillary buccal segments, inconclusive what contribution mandibular 8s make to crowding
What are some uncommon indications for mandibular third molar removal?
- prophylactic removal in medically/surgically compromised patients
- obscure pain
- tooth in line of fracture
- disease of follicle e.g. cyst, tumour
- orthognathic surgery
- transplant donor to another site in mouth
What does this radiograph show?
- horizontally impacted lower right 8
- extensive distal caries of lower right 7, unrestorable
What does this radiograph show?
cyst-like radiolucency on the whole corner of the mandible
What are the relative contraindications for the removal of impacted third molars?
- weigh up all variables
- asymptomatic teeth
- non-compliant patients - patients must be given all the information, document this in the notes
- overt nerve involvement
What is pericoronitis?
inflammation of the tissues around the crown of any partially erupted/impacted tooth
When is pericoronitis a reason to refer a pt for removal of a third molar?
when the patient has had 2 or more episodes of pericoronitis
What are the features of pericoronitis?
- trismus, pain, dysphagia, malaise, bad taste
- signs of inflammation of the pericoronal tissues, with frank pus from under the operculum
- cheek biting and cuspal indentations on the operculum
- halitosis, food packing
- can progress with systemic symptoms and spread to adjacent tissue spaces
What does this photo show?
pericoronitis
- third molar under the pad of soft tissue (operculum)
What does this photo show? How might you manage this?
a more extreme example of pericoronitis with signs of trauma on the soft tissues caused by being bitten on by the upper molar
may grind cusps of opposing tooth or if the opposing tooth is an upper 8 then may extract this
What does this photo show? How would this be treated?
extreme pericoronitis, operculum is very large and seems hyperplastic
treat with removal of upper 8 to remove trauma and then once the tissues around the lower 8 have improved arrange for extraction
How is pericoronitis treated?
local measures:
- irrigation, oral hygiene measures
- remove trauma, i.e. extract upper 8 or grind down cusps
general measures
- analgesics, antibiotics if systemically unwell/immunocompromised
- admission in severe airway threatening cases of cellulitis
What bacteria are commonly involved in periodontitis?
predominantly anaerobic
- Streptococci , Actinomyces, Propionibacterium, a beta-lactamase producing Prevotella, Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Capnocytophaga and Staphylococci
What bacteria have been related to periodontal pocket deepening between the 2nd and 3rd molars?
Prevotella intermedia and Campylobacter rectus
When would antibiotics be prescribed in pericoronitis?
- antibiotics should only be prescribed when surgical removal of the cause or drainage of the infection under local anaesthesia is impossible (e.g. trismus, patient compliance).
- antibiotics are required if there is evidence of a systemic spreading infection necessitating urgent referral for hospitalisation.
What is involved in a mandibular third molar assessment appointment?
- history, examination, investiagtions
- balance between symptoms and need for removal and risks associated with removal or observation
- treatment choices are:
- conservative - monitor, regular x-rays etc
- operculectomy = NOT RECOMMENDED!
- removal
- coronectomy
What factors influence the decision of mandibular third molar removal?
- systemic disease, age
- anatomical position of tooth and root morphology, adjacent structures and teeth
- limited access
- patient compliance
- quantity, quality of bone, ankylosis
- presence of infection, periodontal disease, associated pathology, fractures
- history of TMJ problems
What is involved in the radiographical assessment of an impacted third molar?
- ideally an OPG (PA can sometimes show the root apices and relation to the IDC)
- visualise all the tooth and adjacent structures including bone, tooth morphology and number and shape of the roots, hypercementosis
- depth of bone around tooth
- follicular pathology
- external root resorption
- caries in the distal of the second molar
What 3 things must be commented on during radiographically assessment of an impacted mandibular third molar?
- relation to the 7 - crown, ACJ, or roots
- angulation to the adjacent teeth - vertical, mesio angular, disto angular, horizontal, transverse, aberrant
- proximity to the IDN - IDC-narrowing/darkening of canal as nerve crosses root, loss of white lines, deflection or deviation of IDC, dilaceration or bifid roots, change in colour of roots when crossed by nerve so that the area appears darker
What are the 3 Winter’s Lines?
white - occlusal plane
amber - bone margins
red - drawn from white line to mesio-buccal of amber line - indicates point of application of elevator
What are the 3 Winter’s Lines?
white - occlusal plane
amber - bone margins
red - drawn from white line to mesio-buccal of amber line - indicates point of application of elevator