PATTERN OF SYMPTOMATIC IMPACTED MANDIBULAR THIRD MOLAR AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDEES AT EKITI STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, ADO-EKITI, NIGERIA

Abstract

Impacted mandibular third molar is the most frequently impacted teeth in the mouth and its prevalence varies widely (16.7% - 68.6%) from one geographical location to the other. Though studies have examined impacted mandibular third molar (IMTM) in developed countries very few have done so in sub-Saharan Africa especially with respect to different quadrant of the mandible. This study therefore aimed at determining the prevalence of symptomatic impacted mandibular third molar with specific reference to the quadrant of the mandible and its association with commonly found pathologies. A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out on 1857 patients presenting at Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) clinic, dental department of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti; using purposive sampling technique. Patients' records with periapical radiographs were examined for mandibular impaction(s). Socio-demographic characteristics, family and social history, clinical characteristics (weight, height, position of impaction, associated pathology and depth of impaction) and other relevant data were extracted and recorded on a spreadsheet (Excel 2010). Analysis was done using the Statistical package for social sciences (version 20). The variables were analysed using frequencies and Pearson's x2 with 5% level of significance for all tests. The mean age was 30.5 years (SD= 10.9) and prevalence of IMTM was 14.9%. IMTM occur mostly between age group 21 - 30 years (P < 0.001) and 53.6% of the patients were female. The proportion with bilateral mandibular impaction was 35.9% of which 72.7% had same impaction subtypes. Mesioangular impaction was the most common angulation subtype (58.6%), horizontal (13.5%), Distoangular (13%), vertical (8.8%) and buccolingual (6%). Pericoronitis was the main associated pathology (64%) and observed in patients that exhibited depth A and B level; (P <0.001). Carious lesion was the second in prevalence and observed in patients that exhibited depth A mainly. Overall, the prevalence of IMTM was slightly low with females having higher proportion. The most common angulation subtype was mesioangular especially on the left quadrant of the jaw and over two third of the bilateral cases were of the same angulation. Pericoronitis was the associated pathology most prevalent.