Oral Health and Dental Management

Abstract

Dental Anomalies among a Sample of Sudanese Orthodontic Patients

Ghassan B. Abdulkareem and Amal H. Abuaffan

Background: Dental anomalies are not infrequently observed by the dental practitioner. They can seriously affect the patient’s appearance and function. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence and distribution of dental anomalies in the permanent dentition of Sudanese orthodontic patients. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out for 1225 orthodontic patients orthopantomographs (265 male and 960 female) were screened for the presence of impaction, hypodontia, supernumerary teeth, Peg shaped lateral incisor, hypercementosis, taurodontism, odontoma and transposition. Pearson chi-square test was used to analyze the differences in the frequency of each dental anomaly by gender. Results: At least one dental anomaly was reported in 291 patients (23.7%). Impaction was the most frequent one (11.1%), with canines being the most affected teeth, followed by congenitally missing teeth (8%) in which second premolars are the most commonly involved, supernumerary teeth (2.9%), peg shaped lateral incisors (2.6%), hypercementosis (0.5%), taurodontism (0.2%), odontoma (0.2%), and the least occurring anomaly, transposition (0.1%). No significant difference in dental anomalies was found between genders (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of dental anomalies in this study was within the range of that reported worldwide. Impaction was a predominant one. Careful diagnosis simplifies the treatment plan and reduces complications. Alternative treatment modalities can be planned and performed with a multidisciplinary team approach restoring the esthetics and function.