An investigation of the prevalence of impacted teeth in Kabul, Afghanistan: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

Impacted teeth represent a significant dental health concern with potential complications including infections, cysts, and crowding. While extensively studied globally, no prior research has examined prevalence patterns in Afghanistan's clinical population. This study aimed to determine the clinical prevalence and demographic patterns of impacted teeth among patients treated at Kabul National Curative and Specialized Stomatology Hospital. In this retrospective study, we analyzed 4000 patient records (2019-2022), identifying 298 cases with radiographically confirmed impacted teeth. Data on demographics, impaction types, and associated factors were evaluated using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression. The clinical prevalence of impacted teeth was 7.5% (298/4000). Mandibular third molars were most common (65.1%), showing significantly higher prevalence in males (OR = 1.9, P = .002) and patients aged 21 to 30 years (OR = 3.2, P <.001). Maxillary canines accounted for 18.5% of cases with no gender disparity (P = .12). The median age was 24 years with nearly equal gender distribution (48.7% male, 51.3% female). This first Afghan study reveals distinct impaction patterns, particularly the predominance of mandibular third molars in young adult males. Findings emphasize the need for targeted prevention and early intervention strategies in clinical practice, while highlighting the necessity for population-based studies to establish national prevalence.