CAUSES OF TEETH EXTRACTION IN PATIENTS ATTENDING THE OUTPATIENT TEACHING CLINIC IN COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY, UNIVERSITY OF BASRAH FROM 2012-2014

Background Oral condition is a mirror of the body health and tooth loss considered as a major cause of many complications, especially those associated with eating (nutritional) in the older age group, in addition to psychological disturbances; so, by this study, we determine the causes which lead to tooth extraction ; among them dental caries, periodontitis, orthodontics, trauma and prosthodontics. Objective To determine the patterns of teeth extractions and the reasons for these extractions in patients attending to an outpatient teaching clinic in college of Dentistry University of Basrah during period from 2012-2014. Materials and Methods A descriptive and retrospective study design was followed. Data was gathered from 790 patient files to record the following variables: age, gender, type and site of a tooth extracted, chief complaint of patients and the reason for the extraction. Results The third molar teeth were extracted more frequently and the teeth extracted were commonly in the right sided and lower jaw. Periapical abscess was seen as the most common cause of tooth extraction and extracted teeth were more common in female than male. Conclusions Implementation of primary preventing programs must be the way to reduce the teeth loss frequency and also proper treatment and management of cases that lead to tooth loss.