A Study on Prevalence and Distribution Of Tooth Agenesis

Development anomalies in the number of teeth can result from distribution in the developing dental lamina of the tooth. The dental lamina may fail to proliferate leading to congenital absence of a primary or permanent tooth. The aim of the study was to access the prevalence and distribution of hypodontia in permanent dentition in Saveetha dental college and hospital. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, digital case records of all patients reported to saveetha dental college and hospital from June 2019 to March 2020 were reviewed. Demographic details of patients and tooth agenesis were recorded from digital case records, clinical photographs and radiographs. Retrieved data was analysed using IBM SPSS Software Version 23.0. Descriptive statistics and tests of association for categorical variables by Chi square tests were done and results were obtained. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The most frequently missing tooth was mandibular central incisors (42.5%). Prevalence of tooth agenesis was more among the age group of 13-24 years (50%) and the results were statistically significant (p=0.021). Prevalence of tooth agenesis among the patients were similar in both males and females (50%) and the results were statistically not significant(p=0.494). Within the limits of the present study the most commonly missing teeth were mandibular central incisors. In our study, tooth agenesis was predominantly present in the age group of 13-24 with no gender predilection. Prompt diagnosis of these anomalies can help plan treatment modalities at an early age to establish a functional and esthetic dentition.