Prevelance of congenital missing teeth in orthodontic patients: an Epidemiological study

The aim of this retrospective study is, analyzing the panoramic radiographs of individuals of X (1965-1979), Y (1980-1999), Z (2000- ) generations between the ages of 10 and 16, who applied between 1981 and 2021 in the archive of the Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara University to determine the rate of congenital missing teeth statistically. In this study, panoramic radiographs of 413 individuals (265 women; 148 men) were examined and the prevalence of tooth deficiency was found to be 28,9% (hypodontia 27,9%; oligodontia 1,0%). In this study, 62,93% of the agenesis cases were women and 37,07% were men. Although dental agenesis was detected more in women than in men, this difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The most congenitally missing teeth are respectively; right maxillary, left maxillary, left mandibular and right mandibular third molars, mandibular second premolars, maxillary lateral teeth and upper first premolars. In this study, the prevalence of missing teeth in Angle Class I, Class II and Class III malocclusions was 9,1%, 11,7% and 7,7%, respectively. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the amount of missing teeth and Angle classifications (p>0.05); most missing teeth were found in Angle Class II malocclusion cases. In this study, when the dental agenesis of 70 individuals belonging to the X generation was examined, congenital tooth deficiency was detected in 16 individuals (13,4%). When the dental agenesis of 169 individuals belonging to the Y generation was examined, congenital tooth deficiency was detected in 47 individuals (39,5%). When the dental agenesis of 174 individuals belonging to the Z generation was examined, congenital tooth deficiency was detected in 56 patients (47%). Although there is no statistically significant relationship between the amount of tooth deficiency and generations of the individuals belonging to the X, Y and Z generations participating in this study (p>0.05); it has been determined that the amount of missing teeth of the individuals of the Y generation is higher than that of the X generation, and the amount of missing teeth of the individuals belonging to the Z generation is higher than both the Y generation and the X generation. Although there is no statistically significant relationship between the amount of third molar agenesis and generations of the X, Y and Z generation individuals participating in this study (p>0.05); it has been found that the amount of third molar agenesis of the individuals of the Y generation is higher than that of the X generation, and the amount of third molar agenesis of the individuals belonging to the Z generation is higher than both the Y generation and the X generation. Considering the findings of this study; it has been concluded that the increase in the amount of missing tooth between generations with third molar tooth agenesis may support the theories about the evolution process of humanity continues.