Prevalence of and Reasons for Tooth Loss in a Saudi Population

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to detect the prevalence of and reasons for permanent tooth extractions in aSaudi population in Saudi Arabia.Materials and Methods: 404 Saudi patients aged ≥10 years residing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wererandomly selected and clinically examined for extracted or diagnosed for extraction maxillary andmandibular permanent teeth. The study was carried out from November 2018 to February 2019. The reasonfor extraction was documented whether by asking the patient why his/her tooth was extracted or by clinicaland radiographic examination for the tooth diagnosed for extraction. The criteria for extraction categories(reasons) were adapted based on Murray et al. 1996,3 and one reason for each tooth was recorded. The dataobtained were documented in a patient examination form then statistically analyzed.Results: A total of 1473 teeth were extracted or diagnosed for extraction from 404 patients. The prevalenceof patients who lost at least one tooth was (73.3%). The majority of patients lost 4-8 teeth (38.4%). Inaddition, the prevalence of patients who didn’t lose any teeth was the highest in the age group 10-29 years;however, the prevalence of patients who lost >8 teeth was the highest in the age group ≥51 years. Thehighest percentage of extracted teeth was in the lower posterior region (48.5%), and the lowest percentageof extracted teeth was in the lower anterior region. Furthermore, there was an insignificant difference in themean number of extracted teeth between males and females p>0.05. Moreover, caries was the most commonreason for tooth extractions in all ages (60.6%), followed by eruption problems (20.8%), periodontal disease(7.9%), orthodontics (6.4%), prosthodontics (1.8%), pericoronitis (1.6%), and trauma (0.9%). The meannumber of extracted teeth per patient by caries was (4.24±3.516). The mean number of extracted teeth perpatient was higher in the oldest age group ≥51 years than in the youngest age group 10-29 years. Thepercentages of extracted teeth due to caries and eruption problems were higher in patients ≤ 40 years thanin patients > 40 years, and they due to orthodontics and pericoronitis were the highest in patients 10-29years; however, they due to periodontal disease were higher in patients > 40 years than in patients ≤ 40years.Conclusion: Caries is epidemic; it’s advised to intensify efforts towards dental sealants and fluorideapplication with implementing dental preventive and educational programs in order to raise the publicawareness of oral hygiene instructions and natural dentition.