Third molars: A peek-a-boo of orthodontics?

• Author Details:   
• Neeraj Yadav ^*
• Arun K Garg
• Deepak Kumar Gupta
• Litesh Singla
• Ishata Bajaj
• Rohini Sharma

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Introduction: There is considerable variation between populations with regard to stage of formation of the third molars among which the radiographic diagnosis of its presence and degree of formation forms a crucial part of treatment planning.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to define an age above which the chances of formation of third molars will be less or negligible to guide in the treatment planning of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with an extraction treatment plan or planning for distalization.
Materials and Methods: Pre-treatment and Post treatment orthopantomogram (OPG) of 200 orthodontic patients with known gender and chronological age were obtained. The OPG’s which showed the absence of any of the 3rd molars on pretreatment X rays were evaluated again on the post treatment x-rays to see any signs of radiographic appearance of third molar at the end of the treatment.
Results: The appearance of presence of molar crypts was earlier in females than males and third molars can form in an age gap of eight to fourteen years in both males and females. However, the male patients showed that appearance of maxillary molars may occur even after age of 14 years.
Conclusion: Third molars may present a peek-a-boo appearance as they might be missing on a pretreatment OPG and can appear on post treatment OPG. Therefore, special consideration should be given to third molars while formulating a treatment plan as they can mitigate the results of patients in whom treatment is completed at or before the age of fourteen years.

Keywords: Third molars, Orthopantomogram, Treatment planning, Orthodontic treatment