Pattern of Presentation of Impacted Third Molar in a Nigerian Tertiary Health Facility: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Background: Though pattern of impacted third molar is well documented in the literature, it appears none has been reported in our centre. 

Objective: To evaluate the pattern of impacted third molar in the university of Benin teaching hospital

Methods: This was a prospective study design carried out at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin-city, Edo state, Nigeria from January 2021 to February 2022. All consecutive patients that presented with impacted third molars were recruited for the study. The data collected were sociodemographic data such age, sex, marital status and level of education while the clinical data were side of extraction, type of impaction and indication of extraction. Descriptive statistics were performed. All collected data were screened, entered into a computer, and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) software version 20 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA).

Results: A total number of 43 patients were seen in this one year prospective study. The mean age and standard deviation (SD) were 30.10 ± 6.42, with an age range of 20-43 years, respectively. More than half (54.8%) of the participants were females compared to their male counterparts, with a male: female ratio of 1:1.2. Most (51.2%) of the impacted lower third molars were removed from the left mandibular arch. The most (39.5%) extracted impacted lower molar were mesioangular, while the least (9.3%) was distoangular impaction. Recurrent pericoronitis constituted the major (46.5%) reason for extraction of impacted lower third molars in this study, while the least (2.3%) indication of extraction was for orthodontic reasons

Conclusion: Most prevalent impacted third molars was mesioangular impaction leading to mostly recurrent pericoronitis mainly in the females