Tooth loss among Iraqi adolescent

Abstract EN

Little information is available regarding tooth loss in Iraqi adolescent.

Therefore, this study aims to calculate tooth mortality and its distribution.

Material and Method: This study included a sample of 385 Iraqi adolescents (145 males + 240 females), aged from (11 to 17) years, the mean age was 14 years, drawn from a relatively low socio-economic level who livid in (Al-Dowra) in Baghdad where access to free dental care is minimal.

Over a 6 months period records were made of all adolescent patients attending the (Al-Dowra) General Dental Clinic.

Teeth already lost and teeth indicated for extraction were pooled a part, to obtain a more realistic picture of the dental condition a semi structural questionnaire was constructed.

Results: 16.3% of the study population possessed lost teeth and caries is the primary cause of tooth mortality among young population especially among females.

Conclusions: The mandibular first molar is the most frequently lost tooth and females are more concerned about their oral hygiene than males.

There was also a delay in the mean eruption time of permanent teeth in both sexes