Infections in elderly patients associated with impacted third molars.

The objective of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics of infections caused by impacted third molars in elderly persons. Infectious disorders (26 pericoronitis, 8 secondarily infected dentigerous cysts, 4 perimandibular abscesses with limited osteomyelitis, 2 chronic mandibular osteomyelitis, and 1 odontogenic skin fistula) associated with the impacted third molars impacted third molars were clinically investigated in 41 patients over 60 years of age. Twenty-nine causative teeth were located in the mandibular angle and nine in the ramus; the three remaining lesions (two cysts one pericoronitis) were associated with the maxillary third molar. Bone resorption was noted in most patients, and this caused the originally embedded tooth to become exposed intraorally. It was concluded that oral infection in elder persons are occasionally caused by retained impacted third molars with overlapping of other factors.