title: Reasons for third molar teeth extraction in Jordanian adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess reasons for third molar teeth extractions in a sample of Jordanian dental patients and to evaluate the association of extractions with other independent variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study sample was comprised of dental patients in North Jordan who had third molar extractions. Data were collected from 36 dentists who were instructed to administer questionnaires to their adult patients undergoing third molar extractions and then to record the primary reason for those extractions. The data in this study was analyzed using a descriptive summary and chi square statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dentists performed 810 extractions for 648 patients. The reasons for the extractions were: dental caries and its consequences about 42%, eruption problems 39%, periodontal diseases about 7%, and approximately 9% of extractions were a result of the dentist's choice. The percentage of extractions due to dental caries significantly increased with increasing age. However, significant numbers of teeth were extracted due to eruption problems (51%-69%) in young adults. For 46+ year olds, 23% of extractions were caused by periodontal diseases. Extraction due to dental caries was distributed equally among the sexes. Persons with irregular tooth brushing and fewer dental visits had significantly more third molar teeth extracted due to caries and periodontal diseases compared to persons with regular tooth brushing and dental visits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. hamahsa@just.edu.jo
authors.forename: Abed Al-Hadi
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hamasha
authors.forename: Mansour Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Al Qudah
authors.forename: Anwar Barakat
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Bataineh
authors.forename: Rima Ahmad
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Safadi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003657:Decision Making; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000601:surgery; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery