A comparison between rural and urban residents attending Basrah Dental College south of Iraq for tooth extraction between 2018-2021 and its relation to the dental health care situation in Iraq

Most studies confirmed caries are the main cause of tooth extraction in urban and rural areas, especially in young people. There is a relationship between the level of education and dental extraction, particularly in rural areas. In this cross-sectional examination overall 1257 patients were treated in the teaching clinic of the oral and maxillofacial surgery department, College of Dentistry, the University of Basrah between 2018-2021. Data were collected from patients’ data after taking the agreement of the ethical committee in the college. The comparisons include age, gender, educational level, occupation, chief complaint, diagnosis, and tooth site. reasons and pattern of tooth loss were recorded and data were computed on SPSS. Version 20. The numbers of tooth extraction in urban and rural were very close 632(50.3%) and 624(49.7%) extractions respectively. The male to female percentage was 38.2 %, 61.8% respectively and the highest number of extractions was observed in females in rural areas most of the patients are a housewife. Tooth extraction has seen more in the third, fourth and fifth decade than other age groups 20.4%, 22%, 19.9% respectively. A significant difference between education and dental extraction was noted between urban and rural areas. The main complaint was for prosthetic therapy 45.3% and 43.2% because of pain. The largest proportion considered as the main cause of extraction was dental caries consequences of 80.5% and the lowest 16.9% from periodontal disease.