Aim: The aim of this study was to detect the prevalence of and reasons for permanent tooth extractions in a
Saudi population in Saudi Arabia.
Materials and Methods: 404 Saudi patients aged ≥10 years residing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were
randomly selected and clinically examined for extracted or diagnosed for extraction maxillary and
mandibular permanent teeth. The study was carried out from November 2018 to February 2019. The reason
for extraction was documented whether by asking the patient why his/her tooth was extracted or by clinical
and radiographic examination for the tooth diagnosed for extraction. The criteria for extraction categories
(reasons) were adapted based on Murray et al. 1996,3 and one reason for each tooth was recorded. The data
obtained were documented in a patient examination form then statistically analyzed.
Results: A total of 1473 teeth were extracted or diagnosed for extraction from 404 patients. The prevalence
of patients who lost at least one tooth was (73.3%). The majority of patients lost 4-8 teeth (38.4%). In
addition, the prevalence of patients who didn’t lose any teeth was the highest in the age group 10-29 years;
however, the prevalence of patients who lost >8 teeth was the highest in the age group ≥51 years. The
highest percentage of extracted teeth was in the lower posterior region (48.5%), and the lowest percentage
of extracted teeth was in the lower anterior region. Furthermore, there was an insignificant difference in the
mean number of extracted teeth between males and females p>0.05. Moreover, caries was the most common
reason for tooth extractions in all ages (60.6%), followed by eruption problems (20.8%), periodontal disease
(7.9%), orthodontics (6.4%), prosthodontics (1.8%), pericoronitis (1.6%), and trauma (0.9%). The mean
number of extracted teeth per patient by caries was (4.24±3.516). The mean number of extracted teeth per
patient was higher in the oldest age group ≥51 years than in the youngest age group 10-29 years. The
percentages of extracted teeth due to caries and eruption problems were higher in patients ≤ 40 years than
in patients > 40 years, and they due to orthodontics and pericoronitis were the highest in patients 10-29
years; however, they due to periodontal disease were higher in patients > 40 years than in patients ≤ 40
years.
Conclusion: Caries is epidemic; it’s advised to intensify efforts towards dental sealants and fluoride
application with implementing dental preventive and educational programs in order to raise the public
awareness of oral hygiene instructions and natural dentition.