Prevalence of selected developmental dental anomalies in children, in Sri Lanka

Dental anomalies of school children in Kandy, Sri Lanka are described in this report. The sample studied consisted of 683 children, between 13-16 years old, living in a low-fluoride area. In this sample, 42 percent had at least one anomaly, the most prevalent being enamel defects. Anomalies related to hypodontia and tooth form were to a large extent similar to the reports from the Western Hemisphere. Tetracycline staining of teeth found in 13 percent of the sample, however, raises concern. Hypoplasias, perhaps due to local infections or systemic disturbances during childhood illnesses, were expected to be higher than other published reports.