Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Indian Subpopulation on Third Molar Impaction, Etiology, and Management: A Questionnaire-Based Study

TL;DR

This study explores how people in India understand and manage impacted wisdom teeth, finding gaps in knowledge and highlighting the need for better public education.

Contribution

The study provides a detailed assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding third molar impaction in an Indian population.

Findings

Most participants correctly identified third molars as wisdom teeth but had limited knowledge about their eruption age and causes of impaction.

A majority believed impacted molars do not play a significant role in chewing and were hesitant about surgical extraction.

High support was found for educational initiatives to improve public awareness about third molar impaction.

Abstract

Introduction

Third molars are the most commonly impacted teeth in the oral cavity. Misconceptions among the general population regarding the complications associated with their removal have resulted in an aversion toward surgical extraction. To understand the current mindset among Indians, we aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of the Indian subpopulation toward third molar impactions, their associated complications, and management.

Materials and methods

A total of 716 participants from the outpatient department of a dental college completed a structured questionnaire-based cross-sectional study, which assessed KAP regarding third molar impaction, its etiology, and management. Data were collected via physical forms and Google Forms (Google, Inc., Mountain View, CA). Responses were coded numerically, and descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) were used to summarize KAP across demographic groups. No inferential statistical analysis was performed.

Results

A total of 716 participants completed the survey, including 518 females (72.3%) and 198 males (27.7%). In the knowledge domain, 93.2% (n = 667) correctly identified third molars as wisdom teeth, 57.8% (n = 414) knew the total number of third molars, 67.9% (n = 486) identified the usual eruption age, 71.2% (n = 510) were aware that third molars are the most commonly impacted teeth, and 43.3% (n = 310) correctly recognized lack of space as the main cause of impaction. In the attitude domain, 51.5% (n = 369) believed third molars do not play a significant role in mastication. Pain was cited as the most common problem by 65.6% (n = 470), while 21.1% (n = 151) perceived frequent associations with cysts or tumors. Regarding management, 41.1% (n = 294) preferred to wait for the onset of symptoms or complete eruption before extraction In the practice domain, 63.8% (n = 457) would consult a dentist for symptoms, 82.4% (n = 590) were willing to follow a dentist’s advice for extraction, and 41.8% (n = 299) expressed willingness to undergo minor surgical extraction under local anesthesia, while 58.2% (n = 417) were hesitant or uncertain. Support for educational initiatives, including audiovisual aids, was high at 94.0% (n = 673).

Conclusion

Thus, our study highlights the need for increased public awareness regarding the implications of third molar impaction and the importance of timely intervention. Greater emphasis on educational initiatives should be placed to inform the population about the potential risks of untreated impactions and the benefits of early management.