Impacted mandibular third molars: Presentationn and postoperative complications at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital

Surgical extraction of impacted Mandibular third molar is one of the commonest dentoalveolar surgeries. This study aims to investigate the pattern of presentation of impacted Mandibular third molars, the indications for extraction and the post operative complications after this procedure at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.A prospective study of patients who required surgical extraction of impacted Mandibular third molars between October 2003 and May 2006 at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) was carried out. Data collected included Patients' age, sex, indication for extraction, tooth/teeth extracted. Also collected were the types of impactions and surgical morbidity (postoperative complications). The data collected were evaluated using the SPSS for windows (version 11.0: SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL) descriptive analysis was used as appropriate.Three hundred and thirty one (331) Mandibular third molars were extracted from 329 patients. The ages ranged from 17 to 55 years with a mean of 26.63 (+/- 7.39). There were 153 males and 176 females; with male to female ratio was 1:1.15. Recurrent Pericoronitis was the most common indication for extraction (209 extractions; 63.1%), while the mesioangular impaction was the most common angulation (117 impactions; 53.4%). 47 (14.2%) of the extractions had postoperative complications and dry socket which occurred in 25 (53.2%) cases was most common.The pattern of presentation of impacted Mandibular third molars is similar to earlier reports. The morbidity is however higher than the average value in the literature, it however does not seem to increase with increasing age.