Causes and patterns of loss of permanent teeth among patients attending a dental teaching institution in south India.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of the present study are to determine the causes and pattern of loss of permanent teeth among patients attending a dental teaching institution in southern India.


METHODS
Data collected from patients attending the outpatient wing of the Sri Sankara Dental College, Kerala, during a three month period was used for the study. The cause for extraction was classified as follows: (1) caries and its sequelae, (2) periodontal disease, (3) orthodontic purposes, (4) impactions, (5) prosthodontic purposes, and (6) other reasons.


RESULTS
A total of 1791 permanent teeth were extracted of which 708 (39.5%) teeth were extracted due to caries and its sequelae, 508 (28.4%) due to periodontal disease, 347 (19.4%) for orthodontic purposes, 29 (1.6%) due to impactions, 155 (8.7%) for prosthodontic purposes, and 44 (2.5%) for other reasons.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study suggest caries and periodontal disease are the major causes of tooth mortality in the study population.


CONCLUSIONS
Data regarding the causes of tooth loss indirectly provides invaluable information on the pattern of oral health in a population which can be utilized for planning public health policies designed to address the burden of oral diseases.
Anand
Pradeep S
PS
Department of Periodontics, People's College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Bhanpur, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh State, India. pradeepsanand@rediffmail.com
Kuriakose
Sobha
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D019229:Dentition, Permanent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008437:Maxilla; D008875:Middle Aged; D009970:Orthodontics / Q000379:methods; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult