Tooth impaction occurs when a tooth is prevented from erupting into the oral cavity which is their functional position within an expected time. The mandibular third molars are the most frequently impacted tooth in the oral cavity. Some studies have reported a higher frequency in females than males. A search through the literature shows that no study has been done to ascertain the socioeconomic status of patients presenting with third molar impaction in Nigeria. This study is therefore aimed at determining the pattern of presentation and socioeconomic distribution of patients presenting at the Lagos state University Teaching Hospital for extraction of impacted third molar. 337 patients with impacted third molar who had indication for extraction and had met the inclusion criteria were included in the study after obtaining a signed consent. The positions of impacted third molar teeth on the panoramic radiographs were documented. Associated disorders and every other indication for surgical extraction was documented. Patients were stratified into three socioeconomic classes using the modified version of questionnaire by chukwuonye et al and Balogun et al. Data were analyzed using a Pearson chi-square test, performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 20; SPSS, Inc, Chicago, IL). A total of 337 patients met the inclusion criteria within the two year study period. The sample consisted of 129(40.9%) male and 208(59.1%) female. The difference between male and female was statistically significant (P= 0.04). Most third molar extraction that was recorded in the third decade of life where 172 (51.0%) cases were recorded. The most prevalent type of impaction recorded was the mesio-angular position (49.9%). The most common pathology associated with impacted third molars was pericoronitis which was recorded in 135cases out of total of 337 patients. Majority of the patients who had third molar extraction belong to the middle socioeconomic class (42.7%) followed by patients in high socio-economic class (40.9%).Third molar impaction was commoner in females than males with mesio- angular impaction being the most common type. It was most commonly found in the third decade of life and pericoronitis was the most common associated pathology. Majority of the studied subjects belong to the middle socioeconomic class.