Prevalence and pattern of mandibular third molar impaction: A 4-year retrospective study of cases seen at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

Background and Aims: This descriptive retrospective study aimed to determine the prevalence and patterns of mandibular third molar impaction treated between 2020 and 2023 at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Methods: Cases of mandibular third molar impaction in individuals aged 20 years and above who presented at the oral and maxillofacial clinic were reviewed. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS version 23, with statistical significance set at a 5% level (p < 0.05). Results: The age distribution revealed that the majority of respondents (52.1%) were within the 20–30 age group, while the lowest frequency (0.7%) was observed in the 61–70 age group. Females exhibited a higher prevalence of impacted mandibular third molars (65.8%). Mesioangular (38.3%) and vertical (37.7%) impactions were identified as the most common patterns of mandibular third molar impactions. Conclusion: Mesioangular and vertical impactions were the most prevalent patterns observed. While no association was found between impaction patterns and gender, a significant relationship was noted between impaction patterns and age.