AADJ, Vol. 5, No. 1, April (2022) — PP. 69: 76 ISSN 2682-2822 The Official Publication of The Faculty of Dental Medicine, Al-Azhar Assiut University, Egypt AL-AZHAR Assiut Dental Journal ABSTRACT Aim: This study aimed to assess the CBCT based radiographic correlation in bilateral impacted lower third molars so that, if correlated, data available for one side can aid in surgical planning for the other side or justifes the need for additional imaging. Subjects & methods: DICOM fles of 50 cases with bilateral impacted third molar were retrieved and both sides were compared according to four parameters. Results: Results revealed statistically signifcant positive correlation between right and left sides regarding impaction angulation, number of roots, and crown caries. Weak correlation was found regarding inferior alveolar canal approximation. Conclusion: Multicentric larger sample size study with detailed investigations is recommended. INTRODUCTION Third molar or wisdom teeth impaction is probably an old problem that started as early as history of mankind and continue to modern dentistry (1, 2) . The term impacted tooth defnes a tooth’s failure to erupt within the expected amount of time into the dental arch unless intervened with treatment (3) . Although complications may occur only occasionally, it may affect the patient quality of life so that preoperative thorough assessment is of great importance (4) . Treatment planning depends not only on the clinical assessment but also on the proper radiographic evaluation before any surgical intervention (5) . Two dimensional radiography offers low dose imaging but it is not reliable in determining the relationship between the impacted third molar and the inferior alveolar canal in advance (2) which is important to avoid nerve injury and related complications (6) . CBCT offers a solution in that cases if used as indicated (1) . The problem with CBCT is the higher exposure dose which makes routine use of it considered unjustifed beside that the cost and availability drive clinicians in some socioeconomic area to search for alternatives (7) . KEYWORDS CBCT, impacted lower third molars, DICOM fles, crown caries, inferior alveolar canal 1. Department of Oral and Max- illofacial Radiology, Faculty of dentistry, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt 2. Department of Oral and Maxil- lofacial Surgery, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt 3. Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Faculty of Dentistry, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt 4. Department of Oral & Maxil- lofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Sinai University, Kantara, Egypt 5. Department of Diagnostic Sci- ence and Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Sinai University, Kantara, Egypt * Corresponding Author e-mail: dr.ali.fahd.dentist@gmail.com Radiographic Correlation In Bilateral Impacted Lower Third Molars: A Retrospective CBCT Based Study Zein A. Shatat 1 , Ahmed T.Temerek 2 , Mohamed T. Ellabban 3 , Mervat E. A. Refai 4 , Ali Fahd 5* Codex : 08/2022/04 Aadj@azhar.edu.eg