Abstract
Background and Objectives: Preservation of teeth and their supporting structure up to elderly implies the high oral hygiene and also the efficacy of the health care system. On the other hand early extraction of teeth especially when done because of financial issues is unfavorable and is a manifestation of a deficient oral care system and a lack of oral hygiene knowledge. The aim of this study is to assess reasons for tooth extraction and their prevalence in Tabriz dental faculty.
Methods and Materials: In a cross-sectional and descriptive survey, general information, the causes and rate of tooth extraction and the oral hygiene status of patients referring to department of Oral & Maxillofacial surgery in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences were assesses. Data were analyzed with Chi-Square test using SPSS software for any statistical differences between tooth extraction reasons and other studied variable (such as educational status).
Results: 900 teeth were extracted. Unrestorable tooth tissue loss (40.5%), prosthetic problems (35.6%) and periodontal diseases (15.1 %) were the most prevalent reasons for the extraction. Mandibular first molar was the most extracted tooth (17.52%). The extraction rate had a reverse and statistically significant relation with the oral hygiene and educational status (P<0.05).
Conclusion: caries, pre-prosthetic reasons and periodontal problems were the most prevalent reasons for extraction. According to the result, it seems that with oral hygiene instruction and promotion and by early prevention we can prevent the most prevalent causes of tooth loss.