Analysis of selected dental abnormalities in patients with oligodontia of the permanent dentition

Oligodontia is a congenital absence of six or more tooth buds. This anomaly can occur in the deciduous and/or permanent dentition. Oligodontia can be accompanied by other dental abnormalities such as, among others, delayed maturation and eruption of teeth, taurodontism, ectopic eruption of canines

Aim
The aim of the study was to analyse selected dental abnormalities coexisting with oligodontia in the permanent dentition.

Material and methods
The study material included 180 patients with oligodontia of the permanent dentition, including 87 females and 93 males. The patients’ age was 6 to 39 years. The analysis of dental abnormalities was performed on the basis of intraoral and clinical examinations, and panoramic radiographs. Data regarding the time when the first permanent tooth appeared in the oral cavity were obtained from the medical history. The statistical analysis was performed with the Excel 2003 and Statistica 8.0 software.

Results
In girls and women, the mean number of missing teeth (12.05) was slightly lower than in boys and men (13.85). Most commonly, this abnormality affected second premolars in the maxilla and the mandible. Congenital lack of medial incisors in the maxilla was observed the least frequently. Microdontia was present in 73 subjects (40.6%), altered shape in 102 (56.7%), taurodontism in 46 (25.6%), and enamel hypoplasia in 2 (1.1%). Changed tooth position was found in 158 patients (87.8%), and retained teeth were found in 7 (3.9%). In 89 patients (49.4%), hypoplasia of the maxillary alveolar process and alveolar section of the mandibular body was present. Delayed tooth eruption was reported in 12 patients (9.70%).

Conclusions
Oligodontia of the permanent dentition is accompanied not only by abnormalities of the structure, but also of the position and time of eruption of teeth as well as hypoplasia of the maxillary alveolar process and alveolar part of the mandibular body.