title: Frequency, causes and pattern of adult tooth extraction in a Nigerian rural health facility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency, causes and pattern of tooth extraction in a Nigerian rural health facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in Eden dental clinic of Mount Gilead hospital; Uselu from January 2006 to December 2008. The information collected with questionnaire included demography of patients, indications for extraction, type of tooth extracted and other treatments performed. Results were presented as simple frequency tables and graph. Data analysis was done with SPSS statistical software version 13.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tooth extractions represented one third (33.4%) of the total treatment procedure. Periodontal disease (45%) and caries (32.6%) were the main reasons for extraction. Other reasons in descending order are failed root canal treatment (1.5%), orthodontic reason (1.2%), tooth in fracture line (1.0%), trauma (0.6%), supernumeraries (0.4%) and prosthetic reasons (0.2%). There was higher extraction among females than males p > 0.05. Tooth extraction in 27-36 years age group was the highest and the main reason for extraction in this age group was impaction (47.8%). Higher number of extracted teeth was from lower right quadrant, lower arch and right side of mouth in this survey. Molars made up 95.3% of all extracted teeth with first molar predominating (40.1%). The proportion of extractions attributed to periodontal disease increased from 17-56 years, but declined thereafter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tooth extraction was a highly frequent treatment procedure in this survey. Molars were mostly extracted as a result of caries although periodontal disease was the dominant reason for extractions. This result is different from results from previous studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings in this study showed that tooth extraction constitute about one third of the total procedures done in this rural health facility during the study period. This is mainly due to late presentation and brings to the fore, the degree of ignorance on oral health issues among the Nigerian rural dwellers. It is the opinion of the authors that the attention of the dental professionals be drawn to the need to reach out, educate and encourage best oral healthcare practices.
authors: Dpt Oral, Maxillofacial Surgery, University Teaching Hospital Benin City.
authors: O E
authors: OE
authors: Danielson
authors: A C
authors: AC
authors: Chinedu
authors: E A
authors: EA
authors: Oluyemisi
authors: B O
authors: BO
authors: Bashiru
authors: O O
authors: OO
authors: Ndubuisi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar / Q000601:surgery; D009549:Nigeria; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult