Tooth loss in a selected population in Saskatoon

Tooth mortality in a population can provide information about the prevalence of dental disease, availability of dental care and attitudes about tooth extraction. The tooth mortality of patients presenting for treatment at the University Dental Clinic (Saskatoon, Canada) during the school terms 1981-1986 was determined to provide base-line data during a time when the dentist-to-population ratio has been increasing, and to compare the results with similar studies carried out in Britain and Greece. The data were analyzed according to the same quinquennial age groups as in the other studies. There were no statistically significant differences between the two time periods at all ages and therefore the data were pooled. Totally edentulous persons were excluded from the analysis for comparison purposes. The prevalence of tooth loss increased with age with a rapid period of tooth loss encompassing the mean ages of 34 to 47 years, a slowing of further loss up to the mean age of 62 and thereafter, a further increase. The initial rapid loss was most apparent for molar teeth and least apparent for mandibular incisor teeth. With the exception of first molars, more teeth were lost in the maxilla than in the mandible. The present data are similar to the findings reported in British and Greek studies.