Pattern of tooth extraction in children attending tertiary health care centers in Nigeria: a prospective study.
BACKGROUND
To identify the causes of tooth extraction in a tertiary pediatric center in an urban centre in Nigeria.


METHODS
Data was collected prospectively from 400 children attending one of the four tertiary dental clinics. The demographic profile, the indications for tooth extraction, and the tooth extracted were noted. Data was compared with result of study conducted 21 years back in the same center, and data from two other tertiary health centers in the region.


RESULTS
The prevalence of tooth extraction was 58.8% in the study population. This occurred in significantly more male patients. Tooth loss was commonest amongst the 7-10 age group. Dental caries was the main cause of tooth loss for all age groups. Most patients (66.0%) lost a single tooth. The lower molars were the most frequently lost teeth (47%). Indications for tooth extraction were similar in the region.


CONCLUSIONS
Dental caries remains the most common cause of tooth extraction. The indications for tooth extraction remain the same but the prevalence of tooth loss per cause of tooth loss had not changed over the last 21 years, and across institutions in Southwestern Nigeria.
Dental Department, Massey Street Children Hospital, Lagos. funmash@yahoo.co.uk
Modupe O
MO
Ashiwaju
Morenike O
MO
Folayan
Elizabeth O
EO
Sote
Micheal C
MC
Isikwe
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000601:surgery; D003740:Dental Clinics; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*