Pattern of tooth loss in Nigerian children

AIM: To determine the causes of tooth loss among Nigerian Children. METHODS: The study was cross sectional. Study population consisted of 557 children aged 1 to 16 years from six tertiary hospitals from each of the six geopolitical zones of the country as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The reasons for extractions of teeth in the children for a period of twelve months were obtained including the age, gender and the type of tooth/teeth extracted. RESULTS: Seven hundred and fifty teeth were extracted for various reasons during the study period. Majority (55.5%) were extracted because of dental caries, 22.8% for orthodontic reasons, 12.0% for trauma and 6.3% for periodontal disease. More primary teeth (52.7%) were extracted than the permanent teeth in the children. Dental caries was the major cause of extraction of teeth in the south south, south east, north east, north central and the north west zones. While in the south west zone it was malocclusion. In the FCT, periodontal disease was the main reason for extraction of teeth. CONCLUSION: Dental caries is still the major cause of tooth loss with the mandibular first permanent molar being the tooth mostly affected. Periodontal disease as a cause of tooth loss in children is on the decrease while there is an increase in orthodontic reasons and trauma.