RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Tooth mortality is mainly a reflection of untreated dental caries and periodontal disease and is considered a crude but useful measure for the dental status of a community. Oral health status of the people of Niger Delta particularly that of children, is currently vague. AIM: To investigate the reasons and pattern of tooth extractions among children who presented at the Paediatric dental clinic of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). METHODS: A retrospective study of children aged 16 years and below who attended the paediatric dental clinic of UPTH for treatment from March 2008 to August 2010 was done. The following information was retrieved from hospital records of the patients: age, sex, indications for extraction and the extracted teeth. RESULTS: A total of 462 children aged between 2-16 years were seen out of which 115 (24.9%) patients had extraction. On the whole, 145 teeth were extracted. Dental caries and its sequelae (irreversible pulpitis, dentoalveolar abscess etc) accounted for the highest indication for extraction 71 (61.7%) while periodontal disease accounted for the least (2.6%). The other indications for extractions were trauma, orthodontic reasons and eruption anomalies. Primary teeth 103 (71.0%) were mostly affected with the anterior teeth (33.8%) being the most frequently involved. The molars (73.8%) were the most frequently involved teeth in the permanent dentition. CONCLUSION: Dental caries and its sequelae is the commonest reason for tooth extraction. Efforts must be made to improve the dental health awareness and status of Nigerian children in this region.