Predictors of Norwegian adult patients' perceived need for replacement of teeth at the time of extraction

Abstract

Objective: To report on adult patients' perceived need for replacement of teeth at the time of extraction and to study predictors of their perceived need for treatment. Design: Cross-sectional postal questionnaire survey. Participants: A systematic random sample of 1,500 Norwegian general dental practitioners. The response rate was 67% after two reminders and 75% of their patients responded. After exclusions, the final sample consisted of 438 patients (16-92 years old), who had had 599 permanent teeth extracted by 248 dentists over a period of two weeks. Results: The median number of remaining teeth was 23 (range: 0-31). The patients' wish for a replacement of the extracted tooth was coded as necessary (47%) and unnecessary (53%). Factor analysis (varimax rotation) was used to create two unidimensional variables, measuring the attitude to the importance of dental appearance and dental function. Logistic regression analysis showed that, compared to molars, the odds ratio for wishing a replacement for an incisor or canine was 13.7 (95% CI 5.6, 33.3) and for a premolar 4.1 (95% CI 2.4, 7.1). The likelihood of patients wanting a replacement when >1 tooth was extracted, or they did not believe that they would keep their teeth for life, was 2.5 (95% CI 1.2, 4.4) and 1.7 (95% CI 1.1, 2.8), respectively. Demographic characteristics and attitude to appearance and function had no significant effect on the patients' wish. Conclusions: The most important predictors of patients' wish for a replacement were tooth type, number of teeth extracted and not believing in keeping their teeth for life.