A Radiographic Assessment Of The Prevalence And Pattern Of Dental Agenesis In A Nigerian Population.

J. U. Ifesanya; O. T. Temisanren; O. O. Jaiyeoba

J. U. Ifesanya Department of Child Oral Health, Faculty of Dentistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan
O. T. Temisanren
O. O. Jaiyeoba

Abstract

Objective: Dental agenesis is responsible for dental presentation for orthodontic, restorative and
prosthodontic reasons. This study presents the prevalence and pattern of permanent tooth agenesis in
a group of Nigerian patients.
Methods: Orthopantomograms of orthodontic patients were assessed for missing permanent teeth.
Demographic data were obtained, and the prevalence and pattern of individual tooth agenesis
presented. The relationship between dental agenesis and gender, jaw as well as side affected was
assessed using the Chi-square test while the Student's T-test was used to assess the variation in the number
of missing teeth across the genders. Data were analyzed using the SPSS version 22. Statistical
significance was set at p<0.05.
Results: Tooth agenesis including third molars was observed in 37(17.1%) while exclusion of the third
molars gave an agenesis prevalence of 10.2% in 22 patients. There was no significant difference in the
prevalence of dental agenesis based on gender whether third molars were considered or not (p=0.77
and p=0.37). There was no significant difference in the mean number of missing tooth per person based on
gender whether third molars were considered (p=0.12) or excluded from analysis (p=0.26). There was
a significant difference in the type of tooth involved in agenesis and the arch affected (p=0.01).
Conclusion: The prevalence of dental agenesis among this group of patients is comparable with that
from other populations. Excluding third molars, incisors are more predisposed to agenesis in the
maxilla, while premolars are more likely not to develop in the mandible.