Pattern of Lower Third Impaction and Outcome of Treatment in a New Tertiary Center - A 5-year Survey

Background: Third molar surgery is the commonest dentoalveolar surgery in clinical practice and outcome is dependent on the assessment of the nature of impaction, meticulous care and adherence to instructions. The purpose of this study was to document our five –year experience. Methods: Clinico-radiological information retrieved included patients’ biodata and number of impaction. Others are type/angulation, position and depth of the teeth, number and configuration of the roots, proximity of inferior alveolar canal, method and outcome of extraction. Results: There were 116 patients and 136 impacted lower third molar. There were 56 (48.3%) males and 60 (51.7%) females. Age range was 17-54years; Mean (SD), 28.2(8.2). Mesioangular impaction constituted 66(48.5%) while distoangular was 10(7.4%). Thirty three (24.3%) impacted teeth did not undergo surgical treatment. Surgical extraction of 87(64%) teeth was done. Transplantation of extracted impacted lower third molar tooth into the socket of a second molar tooth was achieved in one of the patients. Only 2(1.9%) patients presented with neuropraxia following surgical extraction. Conclusion and Recommendation: Thorough preoperative evaluation of the cases that did surgical extraction of the impacted tooth contributed significantly to low incidence of post-operative complications in our center.East and Central African Journal of Surgery. 2011 Nov/ December;16 (3