Prevalence and distribution of hypodontia in Pakistani orthodontic population

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and distribution of hypodontia in the permanent dentition of Pakistanis, who reported for orthodontic treatment at Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry [AFID] Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Orthodontic records of 1185 patients [375 males and 810 females with mean age 16.9 years [11.2 to 45.4]] which comprised orthopantomograms, study models and anamnestic and clinical data, were explored for hypodontia. A total of 51 patients [25males and 26 females] presented with hypodontia of permanent teeth. Calculated prevalence was 4.2% [males-6.7% and females-3.2%]. A total of 77 permanent teeth excluding third molars were found congenitally absent. Mandibular second premolar [21, 27%] was the tooth most frequently found missing followed by maxillary lateral incisors [18, 23%]. Majority of patients [48, 94%] had one or two teeth missing. The number of missing teeth were more in mandible [42,55%] as compared to maxilla [35,45%], more on left side [42,55%] as compared to right [35,45%] side and more in posterior [40,52%] as compared to anterior [37,48%] region