Background: Third molars are the most commonly impacted teeth, and their extraction is the most commonly performed procedure in oral and maxillofacial surgery. The aim of the present study is to describe the pattern of mandibular third molar impaction and to define the most appropriate age for prophylactic extraction of mandibular third molar teeth. Materials & method: Examination of 1000 cases of patients aged between 20 and 50 years. The study, conducted with the consent of the patients, involved the evaluation of clinical and radiographic records. The parameters investigated included age group, gender, the impacted third molar's location (left/right), angulations, position, and level within the jaw. All the results were recorded in Microsoft excel and was subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS software. Results: Among 1000 patients, a total of 350 patients having third molar impactions were evaluated. The age ranged from 20 to 50 years, with a mean age of 27.8 years. Among the 350 patients, there were 161 (46%) male patients and 189 (54%) female patients. Conclusion: This study observed a higher frequency of mesioangular and vertical impactions in lower third molars among individuals over the age of 20. Additionally, there was noted an augmentation in the retromolar space in this age group. Consequently, the study suggests that if prophylactic extraction is being considered, delaying the extraction of mandibular third molars until after the age of 20 is recommended. Key words: Impacted, molar, occlusal