Causes of exodontias in the emergency dental service, Rancagua Hospital, year 2006

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to show the causes of the dental extractions in the emergency dental service, Rancagua hospital. For one year all the dental extractions carried out in this service were registered. Data was registered for each extraction carried out. A note was made of the age and sex of the patient, and the cause of the exodontia. The causes considered were: periodontia, caries, traumas, and others. 1.731 extractions were carried out; 52.1% were on men and 47.9% on women. 82.9% of extractions were due to caries, 13.3% for periodontal reasons, 1.3% because of trauma, and 2.5% for other causes. There were not statistically significant differences in the distribution by sexes of the exodontias. The average age of the exodontias due to periodontia, was greater than that for caries. Dental pain was the predominant motive for seeking attention at emergency service. In conclusion, dental caries was the main reason for extraction in patients attending the dental emergency service. Therefore, in order to reduce the rate of dental extractions in this population, effort should focus on prevention and treatments of caries.