title: Reasons and pattern of tooth mortality in a Nigerian Urban teaching hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies from Nigeria have documented different reasons for tooth mortality and regular follow-up studies to determine any changes in reasons and pattern among Nigerians appears not to be common. The purpose of this study was to determine the reasons and pattern of tooth mortality among Nigerians and the changes that might have occurred after 38 years of the first report.
  
  
  METHODS
  The case records of patients seen at the Oral Surgery clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital between March 2007 and February 2008 were retrieved from the Medical Records Department and analyzed for age, gender, reasons for extraction, tooth extracted, frequency of extraction, and mode of extraction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 990 patients were referred for exodontia and 1050 teeth were extracted from 397 (40.1%) males and 593 (59.9%) females of age 14--89 years. The reasons for extraction include caries and its sequelae (n = 905, 86.2%), periodontal disease (n = 69, 6.6%), trauma (n = 41, 3.9%), orthodontics (n = 24, 2.3%), failed endodontics (n = 5, 0.5%), prosthetics (n = 4, 0.4%), pericoronitis (n = 2, 0.2%). The most frequently extracted teeth were the lower right first molars (n = 109, 10.4%) and the lower left first molars (n = 95, 9.0%), respectively. Molar teeth (n = 830, 79.0%) were more frequently extracted while canines (n = 13, 1.2%) were the least. The lower molars were more commonly extracted (n = 479, 45.6%) followed by upper molars (n = 351, 33.4%). The age range of 21-30 years was more commonly referred for extraction with the most frequently extracted teeth being the lower left first molars (n = 32, 3.0%) in females and (n = 27, 2.7%) in males, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tooth mortality in Nigerians is significantly associated with dental caries and its sequelae especially in younger patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Saheeb
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sede
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult