Causes and pattern of tooth extraction in children treated at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

A study of 429 children age 0-15 years who attended the paedodontic clinic of the Department of preventive Dentistry for treatment from January 1995 to December 1995 with a view of assessing causes and pattern of tooth extraction was carried out. 51.52% of the children had extraction. Dental caries and its sequelae accounted for the highest indication for extraction (57.47%) while periodontal disease accounted for the least (0.45%). Deciduous teeth were mostly extracted with the deciduous molars being the teeth frequently extracted. The frequency of extractions shows that a challenging situation exists for those engaged in the organisation of dental health education and emphasis should be on prevention.