Radiographic study of prevalence and distribution of hypodontia in a pediatric orthodontic population in Venezuela

This study's purpose was to determine prevalence and distribution of hypodontia in a pediatric orthodontic population in Caracas, Venezuela.

A total of 607 dental records (radiographs, cast models, and photographs) from 5- to 11-year-old patients of an interceptive orthodontics clinic were studied for agenesis of permanent teeth. Patients with hypodontia of the third molars and syndromes of cleft lip or palate were excluded. Data were analyzed using t tests (=.05) and Pearson's chi-square (P=.001).

Hypodontia affected 25 patients (∼4%): 13 with unique and 12 with multiple tooth agenesis. Females were more affected than males (1.5:1). A total of 40 teeth were missing: permanent maxillary lateral incisors (40%); mandibular second premolars (~23%); maxillary second premolars (15%); permanent mandibular lateral incisors (15%); and permanent mandibular second molars (~8%). The maxilla was more affected (55%) vs. the mandible (45%). Symmetrical hypodontia was exhibited by the maxilla, whereas the left premolar region was most affected in the mandible.

The most affected tooth was the permanent maxillary lateral incisor, followed by the mandibular second premolar; symmetry was noted for hypodontia in the maxilla, and an inverse correlation was found between the maxillary and mandibular hypo- dontia. The overall results agree with other Latin American studies and differ from Caucasian or Asian populations.