Frequency and Pattern of Orthodontic Extractions: A 5 Year Review.

Abstract

Background: Orthodontic tooth extraction is defined as the removal of one or more permanent teeth excluding the third molars in the course of corrective orthodontics. The frequency of extraction has changed over the years with the evolution of new treatment mechanics. Aim: To determine the frequency and pattern of orthodontic extraction among orthodontic patients.
Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study and the study sample comprised of 237 patients who had undergone or were undergoing orthodontic treatment in the Orthodontic Clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital Idi-Araba Lagos Nigeria over a 5 year period. All relevant information required was obtained from the case file of these patients. Basic descriptive statistics, Chi-Square and Student's t-test were used for data analysis. Level of significance was set at P< 0.05.
Results
A total of 237 orthodontic patients were recruited for the study; 78 males and 159 females. Angle's Class I malocclusion was the predominant molar relationship. An extraction prevalence of 53.2% was observed with a total of 340 permanent and 44 primary teeth extracted. The upper first premolar was the most frequently extracted tooth, accounting for 72.9% of all permanent teeth extracted (248 teeth), while the primary canine was the most frequently extracted primary tooth. The most common extraction pattern observed in this study was the extraction of all first premolars (28.6%), followed by the extraction of upper first premolars (16.7%). There was no statistically significant difference in the extraction prevalence between males and females (P=0.5).
Conclusion: There was high extraction prevalence in the current study when compared to the Caucasian studies, with the first premolars
being the most frequently extracted tooth.