Retrospective evaluation of the prevalence of impacted teeth in the Adıyaman region using panoramic radiographs

Aims: Teeth that fail to erupt into the dental arch within the normal eruption time for various reasons are referred to as impacted teeth. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence, localization, and distribution of impacted teeth by age and gender among patients who visited Adıyaman University Faculty of Dentistry, and to compare these results with previous studies conducted in Turkey. Methods: In this study, panoramic radiographs of 1,000 patients aged between 18 and 70 years who applied to Adıyaman University Faculty of Dentistry for various reasons in 2025 were examined retrospectively. Impacted permanent teeth and their locations were determined. The distribution of impacted teeth according to age, gender and position within the jaw was evaluated. Results: Impacted teeth were detected in 237 (23.7%) of the patients examined. The mean age of the patients was 37.15. The most common impacted teeth were as follows: mandibular third molars: 45.37%, maxillary third molars: 41.19%, maxillary canines: 9%, mandibular canines: 1.19%, supernumerary teeth: 0.89%, others (maxillary/mandibular second molars and premolars): 0.59% each. Statistical analyses revealed a significant relationship between age groups and the number of impacted teeth (p<0.001), whereas no significant relationship was found between gender and the number of impacted teeth (p>0.05). Conclusion: The incidence of impacted teeth was found to be 23.7%. This rate shows that impacted teeth are quite common in adults. Considering that impacted teeth may lead to potential pathologies, these results once again emphasize the importance of radiological examination in dentistry.