Dental anomalies in a population of Saudi Arabian children in Tabuk

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of missing teeth, supernumerary teeth including mesiodens, fused teeth, and talon cusps in children attending the North West Armed Forces Hospital, Tabuk. The investigation was conducted clinically and radiographically during routine examination of the patients. The study group consisted of 1878 children of whom 115 had dental anomalies. Sixty-eight children had 133 permanent teeth missing, 42% unilaterally, 37% bilaterally, 3% trilaterally, and 18% quadrilaterally. The most frequent missing tooth was the mandibular second premolars (48%). Eleven children had supernumerary primary teeth, thirteen children had 16 mesiodens, and seven had fused primary teeth. Nine children had multiple anomalies of missing, fused and supernumerary teeth. Early identification of anomalies is useful for planning comprehensive management, initiating interprofessional consultation or referral for evaluation and treatment, and for intercepting functional and aesthetic disharmony in the dynamic occlusion of a young child.