Impacted mandibular third molars: depth of impaction and surgical methods of extraction among Nigerians

This study was conducted in three centres. 717 impacted mandibular third molars were extracted from 517 patients. 69.1% of the extractions were in patients aged 25 years and below. A total of 96.1% extractions were done under local anaesthesia while 3.9% were under general anaesthesia. The lingual bone split technique was used in 2.5% extractions while the bur was used in 97.5% extraction. The patient's preference, the number of teeth to be extracted, and the depth of impaction were the main predicators in the choice of anaesthesia. Majority of third molars with a depth of 5 mm or more were extracted under local anaesthesia. Paraesthesia of the inferior dental nerve and alveolar osteitis were more frequent when extractions were done using the bur technique under local anaesthesia, while paraesthesia of the lingual nerve was more when extractions were performed using the lingual bone split technique under general anaesthesia.