Predictors of Preventable Tooth Loss due to Extraction- A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Dental extraction is an irreversible treatment and knowledge about patient’s perspective to submit an extraction request is essential to help develop guidelines that support oral surgeons in describing the ethical and legal issues, guiding them in decision-making, and responding to extraction requests. This study was planned to investigate the potential correlations between the predictors and extraction of permanent tooth that could be saved, in our area of practice. Methods: The patients were divided into two categories; Group 1: teeth can be saved and Group 2: teeth cannot be saved. Habits of the patients, their socio-demographic variables, medical history, reasons for a dental visit, reason for teeth extraction, and anatomical location of teeth were analyzed as a risk factor for preventable teeth loss using student t-test or chi-square test where appropriate. Results: Preventable tooth loss occurred more commonly at the age of 41 to 50 years of life. Low educational level and anatomic location of the tooth (anterior/posterior positioning) were more significantly associated with the loss of tooth that can be saved at the time of the visit. Extraction of the mandibular right first molar tooth was significantly more on patient request compared to other teeth. Social disbelief was a major factor in opting for patients to choose extraction over teeth preservation. Conclusions: Additional care and counseling are required whenever risk factors such as: age group (41 to 50 years), low educational level, attrition and abrasion, endodontic failures, and treatment of first molars are present.