Age and sex distribution of tooth mortality among Nigerians.

The second part of a study of tooth mortality among Nigerians is reported. In an earlier report (Odusanya, 1985), five major causes of tooth loss were identified. Periodontal disease and dental caries accounted for 90% of all losses. The present report however, focussed on the age and sex distribution of tooth mortality. It was discovered that tooth mortality in the 2nd and 3rd decades of life was the highest. Within this short interval, 46.7% of the entire tooth loss recorded in this study took place. Of this percentage, dental caries accounted for 34%. The results of this study suggest an impending dental disease epidemic in Nigeria which can be avoided if early attention is paid to the prevention of an imminent dental caries explosion. Maximum benefit is likely to be derived from paying particular attention to the population below the 2nd decade of life. During the 4th decade of life the incidences of dental caries and periodontal disease were approximately equal. After the 4th decade however, periodontal disease was the primary aetiologic factor for tooth mortality among Nigerians. The average tooth loss per patient was 1.48 for males and 1.53 for females.