1Research Scholar, Department of Economics, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli
2Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, SMIMS, Kulasekharam, Tamilnadu
3Registrar, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli
Online published on 23 January, 2014.
Oral health is much more than healthy teeth and integral to general health. Oral health status is not determined solely by biology. The factors such as social, economic, environmental and others may also be important. Oral diseases, particularly dental caries and periodontal disease at their end stage result in tooth loss. Dental status is a trustworthy measure of the oral health status among adult population. Rather than health system-related factors, socio-demographic and geographical determinants, particularly social class, are associated with tooth loss. This study was carried out with the following objectives: 1) To study the relationship between socio demographic factors, Oral health practices and opting for only Extraction and 2) To estimate the cost involved in the extraction treatment for dental caries.
The study was conducted in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu. Patients treated in the month of March 2010 from four dental clinics in the district were chosen randomly. Sample size for the study was arrived by using the formula, Sample size (n) = (1.96)2pq/d2 as 366. So 100 patients between the age group of 18 and 50 yrs were randomly selected from each clinic.
Out of the 400 patients, 153 (38.3%) have simply extracted their teeth. There is a statistically significant difference in extraction of tooth among rural and urban patients (p < 0.01). Among the socio demographic factors, rural dwelling, living in non -concrete houses, education lesser than graduate, occupation- employed and income ≤ Rs.8000 per month are significantly associated with extraction. The practices such as not having previous RCT, not having regular checkup, smoking, food- vegetarian., brushing with finger, using of powder as brushing material, not rinsing always, not using hygienic aids have the significant association with extraction.
Extraction of tooth remains the simple and common method of treatment for dental caries. This pattern is more prevalent among rural population. The decision on choice of treatment for direct extraction is significantly associated with educational status, occupation, income, previous experience of root canal treatment and regular check up with the Dentist.
Extraction of Tooth, Cost of extraction, Oral health Practices
