Background: Pericoronitis is a painful, debilitating infection. The present study was undertaken to predict mandibular third molar position as a risk indicator for pericoronitis. Materials & Methods: The present study was conducted on 84 patients with pericoronitis of both genders. A thorough clinical examination was done and radiographs were taken. Theamount of the occlusal surface covered by the pericoronal soft tissues was recorded as a visual estimate in 25, 50, 75and 100%.Angulation of third molar was measured as follows: vertical, ±10 degrees, mesioangular, (11–70) degrees, distoangular, (11–70) degrees and horizontal, greater than ±71 degrees. Results: Out of 84 patients, males were 30 and females were 54. Vertical impaction was seen in 32, mesio angular in 22, disto angular in 20 and horizontal in 10. The difference was significant (P< 0.05).25% soft tissue coverage was seen in 6, 50% in 10, 75% in 48 and 100% in 20. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Vertical impactions were associated with the maximum episodes of pericoronitis; difference between the types of angulations was statistically significant. Conclusion: Vertical impaction was most commonly seen. There was correlation between vertical impaction and pericoronitis.
Key words: Third molar, Impaction, Pericoronitis.

Corresponding author: Dr. Rohit, Tutor, Dental institute, RIMS, Ranchi, Jharkhand,  India,

This article may be cited as: Rohit, GC Rajkumar, DP Ashwin. Predictivity of mandibular third molar position as a risk indicator for pericoronitis- A prospective study. HECS Int J Comm Health Med Res 2019; 5(2):60-63.