Introduction:

Tooth impaction affects 17 % of patients worldwide. It is currently considered to be a syndrome in which third molars occupy the first place. Surgical removal is the most common intervention performed by maxillofacial surgeons.

Objective:

Describe the anatomo-radiographic characteristics of third molars and their possible relationship to epidemiological variables of interest.

Methods:

A cross-sectional observational descriptive study was conducted of students from Antonio Alomá Serrano Senior High School, from the health area of José Martí University Polyclinic in Santiago de Cuba, from May 2016 to February 2017. The study was based on panoramic radiographs, which were analyzed and classified.

Results:

Most teeth were class I (52.6 %), class C (51.9 %), position C (82.2 %), vertical (47.7 %) and without sinus approach (89.5 %). Significant relationships were found between age and skin color with respect to retromolar space and tooth inclination of this molar group, and between sex and inclination.

Conclusions:

Third molars are the teeth showing the greatest variability in terms of intraosseous inclination and position. In advanced ages most of them achieve enough retromolar space and verticalization.

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