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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Measuring Maxillary Posterior Tooth Movement: A Model Assessment using Palatal and Dental Superimposition
Published on: February 23, 2024
Radiographic assessment of congenitally missing teeth in orthodontic patients
1Department of Orthodontics, Intercontinental University, México. bobsilva@prodigy.net.mx
Objective:
To estimate the prevalence of congenitally missing teeth (CMT) in patients evaluated for orthodontic care. A sample of 668 panoramic radiographs from Mexican population was reviewed from orthodontic healthy patients, 9-20 years old.
Method:
Statistical tests were used to compare maxillary and mandibular hypodontia in right and left quadrants between males and females.
Results:
Prevalence was 27% when all teeth were included, and was 2.7% when third molars were excluded. A significant difference was found between maxillary and mandibular symmetrical CMT in third maxillary molars, lateral incisors and second premolars (P < 0.001), and in mandibular third molars and central incisors (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
We confirmed that occurrence of CMT in the permanent dentition of a Mexican population most often affects third molars, followed by maxillary lateral incisors and then mandibular second premolars.
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