Pattern and prevalence of dental anomalies among a paediatric population in Lagos, Nigeria

Dental Anomalies in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological studies have shown varying prevalence rates of dental anomalies worldwide, ranging from 5.2% to 56.9%, with a higher rate of 90.4% in patients with cleft lip and palate. In Saudi Arabia, studies have also reported varied prevalence rates, likely due to genetic differences or sampling variations. However, no research has yet evaluated the quality of these studies or provided an overall prevalence estimate, which is the aim of the present study. This systematic review aims to assess the prevalence and types of dental anomalies across various regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search identified 10 relevant studies on different dental anomalies in Saudi Arabia. The quality of the enrolled studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), showing variability in the methodological quality of the included cohort studies, with several studies demonstrating a moderate to high risk of bias.

RESULTS

Common anomalies included hypodontia, hyperdontia, microdontia, and impacted teeth. This study highlights the varying prevalence of dental anomalies in different regions of Saudi Arabia, ranging from 2.6% to 45.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

This review highlights the need for early diagnosis and tailored treatment approaches to mitigate the clinical challenges posed by these anomalies, underscoring the importance of standardized diagnostic criteria and further research to understand regional and demographic differences in the prevalence of dental anomalies in Saudi Arabia.

Molar Incisor Hypomineralization: Etiology, Correlation with Tooth Number Anomalies and Implications for Comprehensive Management Strategies in Children from Transylvania

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

This study investigates the etiology of enamel developmental defects, specifically Molar Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH), and explores correlations between MIH and dental anomalies such as hypodontia to improve interdisciplinary restorative and orthodontic treatments. Additionally, it assesses the influence of stress factors on the development of enamel defects.

METHODS

Conducted from July to September 2024, this study involved 57 patients aged 6 to 11 from an urban setting, divided into two groups: 32 with MIH and 25 controls, selected based on criteria of mixed dentition without systemic pathology or chronic medication. Clinical evaluations, including intraoral photographs and panoramic radiographs, were performed alongside a detailed questionnaire addressed to the mothers covering prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal factors.

RESULTS

The average age of children with MIH was 7.5 years, in contrast to 7.04 years in the control group (p = 0.17). Significant differences were noted in maternal age, with MIH mothers older (35.56 years) than controls (29.36, p = 0.0001). The prevalence of MIH was higher in boys (66.7%) compared to girls (38.1%, p = 0.036). Factors such as prolonged labor, medication during birth, and early postnatal medication were significantly linked to MIH. The study shows a strong correlation with hypodontia, with a significantly higher incidence of tooth number anomalies (p = 0.009) in the study group.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the study emphasizes the association of MIH with various maternal and birth-related factors and with hypodontia, highlighting the need for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment. Further research is recommended to investigate the relationship between stress factors and MIH.

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.

Worldwide prevalence of natal and neonatal teeth: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Identifying the presence of teeth in newborns is important as it may require immediate care. This study aimed to determine the worldwide prevalence of natal and neonatal teeth.

TYPE OF STUDIES REVIEWED

Six electronic databases and the gray literature were searched on February 23, 2023 to identify observational studies reporting the prevalence of natal or neonatal teeth. Studies assuming natal and neonatal teeth as identical terms or not reporting prevalence indicators were excluded. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for studies reporting prevalence data. The worldwide prevalence of natal and neonatal teeth was estimated via proportion meta-analysis using a β-binomial model. Heterogeneity across studies was explored via subgroup analyses and meta-regression.

RESULTS

None of the 23 included studies fulfilled all items of the methodological quality checklist. The worldwide prevalence of natal teeth was 34.55 (95% CI, 20.12 to 59.26) per 10,000, and the prevalence of neonatal teeth was 4.52 (95% CI, 2.59 to 17.91) per 10,000. Subgroup analysis by continent showed that the prevalence of natal teeth ranged from 11.26 (95% CI, 7.58 to 16.61) per 10,000 in Asia through 75.32 (95% CI, 51.11 to 99.86) per 10,000 in North America, and the prevalence of neonatal teeth ranged from 3.52 (95% CI, 1.73 to 7.06) per 10,000 in Europe through 6.01 (95% CI, 2.25 to 16.60) per 10,000 in South America. Meta-regression did not find a statistically significant association between prevalence rates and year of publication or sample size.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Approximately 1 in 289 newborns had natal teeth and 1 in 2,212 had neonatal teeth. Although this is not a high prevalence, professionals must be alert to identify these conditions, which often require immediate care.