Reasons for tooth extraction in Scotland

Objectives: A 1984 study investigated the reasons underlying the extraction of teeth in Scotland. The survey described in this paper, used a similar m ethodology and aimed to determine the reasons for the extraction of permane nt teeth by general dental practitioners and investigate changes in the inf luences on tooth extraction over a 10 year period. Methods: During a 1 week period in November 1994, 139 general dental practi tioners working throughout Scotland, recorded the reasons for all permanent tooth extractions. Results: A total of 917 permanent teeth were extracted from 613 patients, t he reason for extraction being stated as dental caries (51%), periodontal d isease (21%), orthodontics (11%) and failed endodontics (4%). Trauma, peric oronitis and other reasons accounted for 5.5% of extractions whilst, in 7.5 % of cases, patients requested extraction in preference to other treatments . The proportion of extractions attributed to periodontal disease increased from age 31-60 years, but declined thereafter. Conclusions: Comparing the results with those obtained in the 1984 study, w hilst the mean number of teeth extracted by each practitioner had reduced, the overall relative contribution of different reasons for extraction was s imilar. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.