Provision of extractions by main diagnoses

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of extractions by the diagnoses of caries, pulpal/periapical infection and periodontal disease, controlling for visit type, insurance and age.

Cross-sectional analysis of the 1993-94 wave of a longitudinal study.

Private general dental practice.

A random sample of Australian registered dentists, (response rate = 74%).

Practitioners completed service logs over one to two typical clinical days.

Percentage of patients receiving extractions.

Overall, 7.05% of patients received extractions, with the highest percentages occurring for persons with caries (7.90%), periodontal disease (17.45%) and pulpal/periapical infection (17.54%). Odds of extraction were higher at emergency visits for insured and uninsured patients compared to non-emergency visits by insured patients, while odds of extraction (Logistic regression: OR = Odds ratio; 95% CI) were higher for 18-44 year-olds with caries (OR = 1.44; 1.09-1.89), for 18-44 (OR = 1.84; 1.34-2.54) and 45+ year-olds (OR = 1.83; 1.27-2.63) with pulpal/periapical infection, and for 45+ year-olds (OR = 6.82; 4.68-9.95) with periodontal disease.

There were different age-specific causes of extraction, controlling for visit type and insurance. Effect sizes were highest for pulpal/periapical infection and periodontal disease, but caries remained a major cause of tooth loss due to the higher prevalence of this condition.