The Prevalence and the Characteristics of Supernumerary Teeth of Children and Young Adolescents from North-Western Region of Turkey

Abstract

Aim: The objective of the following research is to study the prevalence by evaluating a large group of children and young adolescent patients from the north-western region of Turkey and investigate the characteristics of supernumerary teeth. Methodology: This descriptive and retrospective study was performed on 6535 non-syndromic children and adolescent patients (4077 females and 2458 males) ranging in age from 5 to 18 years old. The characteristics of supernumerary teeth were noted and diagnosed during the clinical and radiographic examination. For each patient we recorded the demographic variables including age and gender. During statistical analysis Chi-squared test was used to determine potential differences in the distribution of supernumerary teeth when stratified by gender. p value of less than .05 was considered statistically significant. Results: 177 supernumerary teeth were detected in 141 patients (2.2%). 58 patients were females and 83 patients were males with a 1.4:1 male/female ratio (p<.001) among them. In 78.0% (n=110) of patients, one supernumerary tooth was observed. A total of 177 supernumerary teeth were observed, of which 84.2% (n=149) were located in the maxillary arch, while 15.8% (n=28) were determined in the mandible. 78 teeth (44.1%) of all supernumerary teeth were found in the maxilla midline (mesiodens). Regarding their status within the arch, 65 supernumerary teeth (36.7%) had erupted. 100(56.5%) supernumerary teeth did not cause any complications whereas 77(43.5%) teeth caused a complication. 119 supernumerary teeth (67.2%) were extracted and most of them were the complication source, however periodical observation was chosen as a treatment option for 58 teeth (32.8%). Conclusion: The frequency of supernumerary teeth was 2.2% in the following research and we found out that supernumerary teeth are not a very rare case among children and young adolescents and clinicians should take measures and examine all patients carefully even at early ages.