The pattern of tooth loss was investigated in a selected segment of Saudi population. The study covered 1, 1 73 Saudi patients, aged 15-85 years, who attended the dental screening clinics of the College of Dentistry, King Saud University in Riyadh between 1990-1992. Tooth loss was found to increase steadily with age. There was a slight tendency for higher tooth mortality among the females. The mandibular first molars were the most frequently missing (accounting for 41.5% of the total missing teeth), while the mandibular canines were the longest retained (accounting for 9.1 % of the total missing teeth). The anterior teeth were more often missing in the maxillary than in the mandibular, while the molars were more often missing in the reverse order. There was an abrupt increase in tooth mortality after the ages 35-44.

Saudi Dental Journal 1995;7(3):135-140