REASONS FOR AND PATTERNS RELATING TO THE EXTRACTION OF PERMANENT TEETH IN A SAMPLE OF THE EGYPTIANPOPULATION: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

OBJECTIVES: To identify the reasons for tooth extraction in Egypt, from a sample of adult patients seeking dental extraction in Misr International University (MIU) dental clinic complex and to test whether they differ by socio-economic groups and levels of caries experience. MATERIALS & METHODS: This Cross-sectional study was performed during a 6 months' period from June till December in the year 2016. Dentists were asked to record the reasons for every extraction of a permanent tooth including the 3rd molars from a total of 460 candidates. The reasons for tooth extraction were allocated to different causes as, remaining roots, dental caries, periodontal disease, impaction, preprosthetic reasons, failed root canal treatment, and others. The data requested for each extraction were: patient age, gender, and type of tooth removed and the reason for its extraction. Data retrieved were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 20. RESULTS: Of the 580 teeth extracted in 461 patients comprising 220 males and 241 females, 32.1 % were due to non-restorability of the tooth and its sequelae; 31 % were remaining roots; 27.2 % for being hopeless teeth; 0.2 5% as being supernumerary, 0.3 % for other causes. There was a statistically significant association between gender and cause of extraction (P-value <0.001). Females were predominating in extraction due to remaining roots and non-restorable teeth, however males were dominant in pre-prosthetic and periodontal reasons. There was a statistically significant association between age and cause of extraction (P-value <0.001) stating that preprosthetic and periodontal disease have the highest mean of age. CONCLUSION: Non- restorable teeth due to caries and its sequelae and periodontal disease were the most common reasons for teeth extraction therefore health care workers should raise awareness programs in order to overcome this problem. Keywords: causes, reasons, tooth loss, teeth extraction, permanent teeth