Factors related to decisions to extract or retain at-risk teeth

John J Warren; Jed S Hand; Steven M Levy; H Lester Kirchner

doi:10.1111/j.1752-7325.2000.tb03290.x

Back

Factors related to decisions to extract or retain at-risk teeth

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Factors related to decisions to extract or retain at-risk teeth

John J Warren, Jed S Hand, Steven M Levy and H Lester Kirchner

Journal of public health dentistry, Vol.60(1), pp.39-42

2000

DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-7325.2000.tb03290.x

PMID: 10734615

View Online

Abstract

Decisions to extract a tooth may be among the most critical in dentistry. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate both clinical and nonclinical factors related to decisions to extract or retain teeth in private general dental practice. A convenience sample of 196 Iowa dentists in private general dental practice reported on 549 cases where decisions were made to extract or retain teeth as they occurred in their practices during a one-month period in May 1997. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify factors that differentiated between cases where a tooth (or teeth) was extracted and cases where an at-risk tooth was retained. Of the 549 cases, 67 percent involved extraction, while the remainder involved alternatives to extraction. In comparing extraction cases to alternative treatment cases, we excluded 150 extraction cases because dentists reported that no alternative to extraction was available. Using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE), we identified cost of treatment, presence of tooth mobility, poor prognosis of alternative treatment, and presence of gross caries as significant factors associated with extraction, while previous treatment of the tooth and concerns with patients' health were significantly associated with alternatives to extraction. For teeth at risk for extraction, cost, substantial periodontal disease, and several clinical factors were predictive of extraction.

Decision Making

Multivariate Analysis

Tooth Extraction - economics

Periodontal Diseases - complications

Prognosis

Prospective Studies

Humans

Middle Aged

Risk Factors

General Practice, Dental

Male

Private Practice

Tooth Mobility - complications

Forecasting

Practice Patterns, Dentists

Health Care Costs

Likelihood Functions

Analysis of Variance

Dental Care - economics

Dental Caries - complications

Female

Health Status

Details

Title: Subtitle: Factors related to decisions to extract or retain at-risk teeth
Creators: John J Warren - University of Iowa, College of Dentistry, Iowa City 52242, USA. john-warren@uiowa.edu
Jed S Hand
Steven M Levy
H Lester Kirchner
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of public health dentistry, Vol.60(1), pp.39-42
DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-7325.2000.tb03290.x
PMID: 10734615
NLM abbreviation: J Public Health Dent
ISSN: 0022-4006
eISSN: 1752-7325
Publisher: United States
Language: English
Date published: 2000
Academic Unit: Preventive and Community Dentistry; Epidemiology
Record Identifier: 9983917682602771

Metrics

22 Record Views

9 Times Cited - Web of Science

See more details