Patterns of Tooth Extraction at a Student Dental Clinic in Palestine

While the ideal approach in dentistry is to preserve teeth and restore their functionality within the oral cavity, there are circumstances where tooth extraction becomes a necessary and routine dental procedure. In cases where preserving the tooth is not feasible due to unavoidable reasons, extraction may be the preferred choice to ensure the attainment of stable oral health. So, the present study aims to elaborate on the trends in extraction in student dental clinics in Palestine.

The present study is a cross-sectional study. Informed consent was obtained from the participants before enrolling in the study. Patients from all the departments undergoing extraction procedures were included in the present study. Patient information such as age, sex, and main reason for tooth extraction was collected. A dental record was noted for the number of teeth extracted, the type of the teeth, and the condition of the teeth extracted. All the data collected was entered in the spreadsheet, and frequency was calculated for each variable.

The present study showed that third molars were the most extracted teeth, and dental caries was the primary cause of extraction. In the "clearance cases," lower canines were the most commonly extracted teeth. In the "non-clearance cases," lower incisors and lower first molars were the most commonly extracted teeth.  Conclusion: The present study gives an overview of tooth extraction patterns in student dental clinics in Palestine. Further studies are required to evaluate and compare the prevalence and causes of tooth loss in different settings.