Dental anomaly patterns associated with tooth agenesis

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between tooth agenesis and the occurrence of other dental anomalies in children and adolescents.

Material and methods: Panoramic radiographs of 195 subjects with tooth agenesis, except for the third molar, were retrospectively examined and compared with a non-agenesis control group of 600 subjects. Their ages ranged from 7 to 15 years. Panoramic and periapical radiographs were used to analyze the presence of other associated dental anomalies. The occurrences of these anomalies were compared with those in the non-agenesis group.

Results: Subjects with tooth agenesis showed a significantly higher prevalence of a small maxillary lateral incisor (17.7%), distoangulation of the mandibular second premolar (6.5%), delayed development of a permanent tooth (10.8%), and hypo-occlusion of a primary molar (11.8%). In contrast, the prevalence of a supernumerary tooth was higher in the control group, and no difference was observed in the prevalence of ectopic eruption of a first molar. According to the agenesis area, microdontia of the maxillary lateral incisors occurred more often in patients with anterior or premolar agenesis than in the molar agenesis groups. Distoangulation of the mandibular second premolars, delayed tooth development, and hypo-occlusion of the primary molars were associated with premolar tooth agenesis.

Conclusions: A small maxillary lateral incisor, distoangulation of the mandibular second premolar, delayed development of a permanent tooth, and hypo-occlusion of a primary molar were frequently associated with tooth agenesis, providing additional evidence of a genetic interrelationship in the causes of these dental anomalies.

Keywords:

• Genetic predisposition
• hypodontia
• panoramic radiograph
• tooth abnormalities

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Notes on contributors

Ji Hyun Song, is an Associate Professor in Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University Clinics of Odontology. She has contributed to conception and design of the work and also assisted in the interpretation of the results and revised the manuscript.

Su Ji Choi, DDS, MSD, is a Doctor in Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University Clinics of Odontology. She has designed the study, interpreted the results and revised the manuscript.

Je Woo Lee, is an Assistant Professor in Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University Clinics of Odontology. He has contributed to conception and design of the work and also assisted in the interpretation of the results and revised the manuscript.