Permanent tooth loss among adults and children in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess tooth loss among various age-groups in Saudi Arabia as a part of a national epidemiological study on oral conditions.

DESIGN: Methodology was based on the WHO International Collaborative Study II. The sampling strategy covered Kingdom-wide sites in 10 regions with stratified cluster random samples. Data collection was confined to age-groups 6 to 7, 12 to 13, 15 to 19, 20 to 29, 35 to 44 and 65 to 74 years.

SETTING: Children and adults from the schools and households of the ten provinces of Saudi Arabia. Clinical examinations were performed in daylight to determine oral clinical status and the prevalence of tooth loss.

SUBJECTS: A total of 7,377 children and adults in the specified age-groups.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Loss of permanent teeth assumed due to caries, assessed on clinical examination. Examiners reliability was calibrated using the kappa statistic.

RESULTS: Tooth loss due to caries was 0.03 in the 6 to 7-year age-group; 0.12 at 12 to 13 years; 0.29 at 15 to 19 years; 1.24 at 20 to 29 years; 4.15 at 35 to 44 years; and 15.79 in the 65 to 74-year age-group. When compared by gender, a statistically significant difference was found between males and females for those aged 6 to 7, 15 to 19, 20 to 29, and 35 to 44 years.

CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that tooth loss increases with age and differs for gender and socio-economic status. No differences found based on city or rural lifestyles.