Prevalence and Distribution of Dental Anomalies in Schoolchildren in Kuwait

Radiographic Assessment of Root/Crown Ratio and Short Root Anomaly: A Retrospective Study in Chinese Population

OBJECTIVES

Research suggested that racial and gender differences may exist in tooth root development and the prevalence of short root anomaly (SRA). However, data on Asian and specifically Chinese populations were limited. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of SRA and the characteristics of the root-to-crown ratio (R/C ratio) within the Chinese population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Modified Lind's criteria were used to measure the crown and root lengths in permanent dentition. A total of 27 142 teeth from 1000 subjects were evaluated using panoramic radiographs. Fisher's exact test was employed to analyse gender differences in SRA. Paired-sample and independent-sample t tests were used to assess the characteristics of R/C ratios.

RESULTS

SRA was observed in 27 patients, with a prevalence of 2.7% and a tooth prevalence of 0.309%. Females had a significantly higher prevalence of SRA compared to males (p < 0.01). SRA was found exclusively in incisors (83.72%) and premolars (16.28%), with the maxillary central incisor being the most commonly affected tooth. Additionally, there were statistical differences in the R/C ratio based on gender and jaw position in the normal groups. The highest R/C ratios were observed in the mandibular second premolars, while the maxillary central incisors had the lowest ratios.

CONCLUSIONS

SRA was relatively common in the Chinese population, and clinicians should be aware of its presence. It was more frequently observed in females and shows specificity in tooth position, with the maxillary central incisor being the most commonly affected tooth. Our study provides valuable insights for the early diagnosis and treatment of SRA in the Chinese population.

The Diagnosis and Management of Infraoccluded Deciduous Molars: A Systematic Review

The infraocclusion (IO) of primary molars, often seen in retained deciduous teeth, is a common condition that presents significant challenges for pediatric oral health. It occurs when primary molars are positioned below the occlusal plane due to the absence of permanent successors, leading to complications such as misaligned teeth, impaired chewing, and long-term dental health issues.

OBJECTIVES

This study examines IO prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment approaches.

METHODS

A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted, searching PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for articles from the last 15 years. Nine articles were included for qualitative analysis.

RESULTS

IO was associated with several complications, including root resorption, altered eruption of adjacent teeth, and space loss within the dental arch. Clinical and radiographic evaluations are key to early detection. Severe cases often require invasive treatments, such as tooth extraction and space maintenance, while mild cases could be monitored.

CONCLUSIONS

IO is prevalent in pediatric dentistry and can lead to significant dental issues if untreated. Early detection and intervention are crucial for preventing complications like tooth misalignment and impacted premolars. Tailored treatment strategies based on severity, along with increased awareness among dental practitioners, are essential to improve long-term outcomes for affected children.

Genotypic and phenotypic correlations in tooth agenesis: insights from WNT10A and EDA mutations in syndromic and non-syndromic forms

Tooth agenesis (TA) occurs when tooth development is disrupted at the initiation stage. It can be classified into non-syndromic and syndromic forms (named NSTA and STA), depending on whether it is accompanied by abnormalities of other organs and systems. Genetic factors play a predominant role in the pathogenesis of tooth agenesis, with dozens of genes implicated in both forms. Several genes have been identified, mutations in which can lead to both forms of TA. Among these, WNT10A and EDA are frequently mutated genes in this context, representing extensively researched and documented genes in human non-syndromic selective agenesis of permanent teeth and their association with ectodermal dysplasia syndromes. In this review, we present an overview of the current knowledge regarding genes associated with NSTA and STA, focusing on the distribution and nature of WNT10A and EDA gene mutations. We also explore how these mutations relate to the condition's both forms, including their association with the number of missing permanent teeth.

A Narrative Review of the Association between Dental Abnormalities and Chemotherapy

Dental abnormalities are often detected in childhood and are reported to occur with high prevalence in patients who have undergone cancer treatment or chemotherapy. We performed a literature search of PubMed from 2004 to 2024 using the terms "dental anomaly" and "panoramic examination", and 298 potentially relevant articles were found. Thirty-one articles about dental abnormalities matched the eligibility criteria and were extracted for this review. Although the prevalence of tooth agenesis and microdontia in the general population was reported to be approximately 10% and 3%, respectively, the prevalence in patients who had undergone cancer treatment or chemotherapy was higher in all surveys, suggesting that the treatment is related to the occurrence of dental abnormalities. It is important to continue long-term follow-up with patients not only during treatment but also after the completion of treatment. Dental professionals should provide information about dental abnormalities to patients, their guardians, and medical professionals, which may lead to improvement in the quality of life of patients.

Dental Anomalies in Primary Dentition among Arabian Children: A Hospital-Based Study

An observational study was carried out in a teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia to determine the occurrence of dental anomalies among Arabian children. The study included children of Saudi nationality with primary teeth. The study assessed the prevalence of dental anomalies in their primary dentition. The assessment and data collection were conducted by a single examiner, utilizing clinical examination and intra-oral radiographs. A comparative analysis was conducted to examine dental anomalies in relation to gender (boys and girls) and arch type (maxillary and mandibular). In addition, the study explored the occurrence of gender-specific dental anomalies depending on arch type. The data analysis was conducted using IBM Statistics (version 21.0) with a significance level of p < 0.05. In total, there were 245 children included in the final analysis. The study population consisted of boys (66%) and girls (34%), with an average age of 4.87 ± 0.9 years. Taurodontism was the most prevalent dental abnormality, occurring in 2.8% of the individuals in the study sample. The study sample exhibited hypodontia in 2%, supernumerary teeth in 2.4%, double teeth in 2%, and microdontia in 1.2%. Talon cusp and macrodontia have a relatively low incidence of 0.4%. Boys exhibit supernumerary teeth, microdontia, macrodontia, talon cusp, and taurodontism, whereas hypodontia and double teeth were more frequent in girls.