Patterns of non-syndromic permanent tooth agenesis in a large orthodontic population

Arch Oral Biol. 2017 Jul:79:42-47. doi: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2017.02.020. Epub 2017 Mar 1.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore patterns of non-syndromic permanent tooth agenesis in a large orthodontic patient group.

Design: A record review was performed in various orthodontic clinics to identify white patients with non-syndromic permanent tooth agenesis, excluding 3rd molars. Four hundred and fourteen subjects fulfilled the inclusion criteria.

Results: In the 414 subjects with tooth agenesis, approximately 70% presented 1-2 missing teeth. Symmetric agenesis patterns were often observed in the sample (by jaw, by side, or crossed quadrants), with prevalence approaching 30% for cases with contralateral tooth agenesis within a jaw. In cases with 1 or 2 missing teeth, from the total number of potential tooth agenesis patterns in the sample, a certain part was evident, limiting the variation to 27.8% (44/158). In the entire sample, both in the maxilla and the mandible a certain incisor/premolar agenesis phenotype was observed in 59.0% of cases in isolated form.

Conclusions: Although there was variation in the tooth agenesis patterns, our findings suggest the involvement of particular genetic, epigenetic, and/or environmental factors in the formation of the entire dentition, which often lead to specific tooth agenesis phenotypes in cases where this process is disrupted. The present study provides a comprehensive categorization of orthodontic cases with tooth agenesis and can assist in planning future epidemiological and genetic studies.

Keywords: Non-syndromic; Orthodontic patients; Permanent dentition; Tooth agenesis.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anodontia / diagnostic imaging
  • Anodontia / epidemiology*
  • Bicuspid / abnormalities
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incisor / abnormalities
  • Male
  • Mandible
  • Maxilla
  • Molar, Third / abnormalities
  • Orthodontics*
  • Prevalence
  • Radiography, Panoramic
  • Switzerland / epidemiology
  • Tooth Loss
  • Young Adult