Patterns of and Reasons for Permanent Tooth Extractions in a Saudi Population

Aim: The aim of this study was to detect the patterns of and reasons for permanent tooth extractions in aSaudi population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Materials and Methods: 557 Saudi patients aged ≥10 years residing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia withat least one permanent tooth extracted or diagnosed for extraction were randomly selected. One reason foreach tooth was documented whether by asking the patient why his/her tooth was extracted or by clinical andradiographic examination. The data obtained were documented in a patient examination form thenstatistically analyzed using Chi-Square Test or Fisher-Freeman-Halton Test and T-Test.Results: The highest percentage of tooth extractions was observed in the age group 10-29 years (36%).Tooth extractions due to caries were more in females compared with males, but they due to periodontaldisease were more in males compared with females. There was a significant relationship between thereasons for tooth extractions and the extracted teeth types p <0.05, so caries was (66.4%), followed byeruption problems (17.5%), periodontal disease (7.1%), orthodontics (5%), prosthodontics (1.9%),pericoronitis (1.6%), and trauma (0.5%); also, the most frequently extracted tooth type was the molars(75.7%), followed by premolars (18.1%), and anterior teeth (6.2%); mandibular and maxillary third molarswere the most frequently extracted teeth (19.9%) and (19.5%), followed by the mandibular and maxillaryfirst molars (13.3%) and (8.4%), respectively; however, the least frequently extracted teeth were themandibular canines (0.7%), followed by the maxillary lateral incisors (0.9%). Of all teeth types, premolarswere the most commonly extracted teeth due to orthodontics, and mandibular anterior teeth were the leastfrequently extracted teeth due to caries. Caries was the main reason for tooth extractions in all age groups.Tooth extractions due to caries, eruption problems, and orthodontics were more in patients≤ 40 years thanin patients > 40 years; however, tooth extractions due to periodontal disease were more in patients > 40years than in patients ≤ 40 years.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.