Prevalence and Distribution of Dental Caries in Patients Undergoing Extraction of Permanent Teeth: An Institutional Study

Author(s):

Fathima Bareera R, Santhosh Kumar MP* and Manjari Chaudhary

An increase in the prevalence of dental caries has been observed, which can be attributed to a change in lifestyle that involves increased consumption of sugary food, carbonated drinks, and lack of awareness towards proper oral health maintenance. Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic oral diseases which lead to tooth loss, affecting all age groups causing a major public health concern. It is important to acknowledge the causes of dental caries prevent it from deteriorating and hence reduce the number of extractions in future. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and distribution of dental caries in patients undergoing extraction of permanent teeth at Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, digital case records of all patients who underwent extractions of permanent teeth due to dental caries in Saveetha Dental College and Hospital from June 2019 to March 2020 were reviewed. Demographic details of patients and the extracted tooth numbers were recorded from digital case records. Retrieved data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Software Version 20.0. Descriptive statistics and tests of association for categorical variables by Chi square tests were done and results were obtained. P value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. 6808 patients underwent 16,955 extractions of permanent teeth due to dental caries in Saveetha Dental College, out of which the prevalence of extraction due to dental caries was more in the third molars, in the age group of 41-50 years with a male predilection. On comparing the association of extractions (tooth number) with age and gender of the patients, the results were statistically significant. (Pearson’s Chi Square test, p<0.05). Within the limits of the present study, it can be concluded that the prevalence of extraction due to dental caries was more in the third molars, in the age group of 41-50 years with a male predilection.