Aim: The aim of this study was to detect the patterns of and reasons for permanent tooth extractions in a Saudi population in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: 318 Saudi patients aged ≥10 years residing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with at least one permanent tooth extracted or diagnosed for extraction were randomly selected. The Study was carried out from September 2018to December 2018. The reason for extraction was documented whether by asking the patient why his/her tooth was extracted or by clinical and radiographic examination for the tooth diagnosed for extraction. The criteria for extraction categories (reasons) were based on Murray et al. 1996,3 and one reason for each tooth was recorded. The data obtained were documented in a patient examination form then statistically analyzed using Chi-Square Test and T-Test. Results: The highest percentage of tooth extractions was observed in the age group 10-29 years (35.3%).Tooth extractions due to caries were more in females compared with males, but they due to periodontal disease were more in males compared with females. There was a significant relationship between the reasons for tooth extractions and the extracted tooth types p <0.05, so caries was (70.1%), followed by eruption problems (12.8%), periodontal disease (7.4%), orthodontics (5.7%), prosthodontics (1.8%), pericoronitis (1.6%), and trauma (0.6%); also, the most frequently extracted tooth type was the molars (74.7%), followed by premolars (18.6%), and anterior teeth (6.7%); mandibular and maxillary third molars were the most frequently extracted teeth (19.1%) and (18.4%), followed by the mandibular and maxillary first molars (13.4%) and (8.2%), respectively; however, the least frequently extracted teeth were the mandibular canines (0.7%), followed by the maxillary lat¬eral incisors (0.9%). Of all tooth types, premolars were the most commonly extracted teeth due to orthodontics, molars due to caries, and incisors due to periodontal disease. Caries was the main reason for tooth extractions in all ages. Tooth extractions due to caries, eruption problems, orthodontics, and pericoronitis were more in patients ≤ 40 years than in patients > 40 years; however, tooth extractions due to periodontal disease were more in patients > 40 years than in patients ≤ 40 years. Conclusion: Caries is epidemic; it’s advised to intensify efforts towards dental sealants and fluoride application with implementing dental preventive and educational programs in order to raise the public awareness of oral hygiene instructions and natural dentition.
