Frequency, causes and pattern of adult tooth extraction in a Nigerian rural health facility

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency, causes and pattern of tooth extraction in a Nigerian rural health facility.

Materials and method: This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in Eden dental clinic of Mount Gilead hospital; Uselu from January 2006 to December 2008. The information collected with questionnaire included demography of patients, indications for extraction, type of tooth extracted and other treatments performed. Results were presented as simple frequency tables and graph. Data analysis was done with SPSS statistical software version 13.0.

Results: Tooth extractions represented one third (33.4%) of the total treatment procedure. Periodontal disease (45%) and caries (32.6%) were the main reasons for extraction. Other reasons in descending order are failed root canal treatment (1.5%), orthodontic reason (1.2%), tooth in fracture line (1.0%), trauma (0.6%), supernumeraries (0.4%) and prosthetic reasons (0.2%). There was higher extraction among females than males p > 0.05. Tooth extraction in 27-36 years age group was the highest and the main reason for extraction in this age group was impaction (47.8%). Higher number of extracted teeth was from lower right quadrant, lower arch and right side of mouth in this survey. Molars made up 95.3% of all extracted teeth with first molar predominating (40.1%). The proportion of extractions attributed to periodontal disease increased from 17-56 years, but declined thereafter.

Conclusion: Tooth extraction was a highly frequent treatment procedure in this survey. Molars were mostly extracted as a result of caries although periodontal disease was the dominant reason for extractions. This result is different from results from previous studies.

Recommendation: Findings in this study showed that tooth extraction constitute about one third of the total procedures done in this rural health facility during the study period. This is mainly due to late presentation and brings to the fore, the degree of ignorance on oral health issues among the Nigerian rural dwellers. It is the opinion of the authors that the attention of the dental professionals be drawn to the need to reach out, educate and encourage best oral healthcare practices.