A SURVEY OF REASONS FOR EXTRACTION OF PERMANENT TEETH IN SINGAPORE

A survey was carried out to determine the reasons for tooth extraction s of permanent teeth in Singapore. Data were obtained from 52 dentists practising general dentistry over a period of 12 months. At the end o f the 12-month period, data were collected from 1276 patients, from wh om a total 272 teeth were extracted, In this population group, the res ults showed that the percentage of teeth extracted due to periodontal reasons and caries were about the same, that is, 35.8% and 35.4%, resp ectively. There was an increase in teeth extracted due to periodontal reasons with age. In patients above 40 yr, an average of 76% of teeth were lost due to periodontal reasons. An average of 26.7% of teeth wer e lost due to periodontal reasons in patients under 40 yr old. However , the trend for loss of teeth due to caries is reversed. Posterior tee th were more frequently extracted compared to anterior teeth. Third mo lars accounted for 24.7% of all extractions carried out, whilst centra l incisors were 8.0% of all extractions. Molars were often lost due to caries and lower anterior teeth were most frequently lost due to peri odontal reasons. The results of this study did not demonstrate one pre dominant reason for extraction. Both caries and periodontal reasons we re equally common causes of tooth extraction.