PREVALENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED DENTAL ANOMALIES IN NAJRAN CITY OF SAUDI ARABIA

Background: Dental anomalies are significant deviation in the anatomy, morphology, number, dimension and eruption pattern of teeth. Their effects can range from being negligible to having extreme consequences on the stomatognathic system.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, gender and arch distribution of selected dental anomalies in the population of Najran city of Saudi Arabia. It also aims to compare the dental anomalies in Najran population with the other population of Saudi Arabia and other parts of world.
Material and Methods: The study sample included 572 patients (196 male and 376 females) between the ages of 8 – 34 years, who visited the orthodontic department in dental college clinic of Najran university and Najran University hospital in the year 2019. The data was collected through clinical examination, dental cast evaluation and digital panoramic radiographic assessment. Seven dental anomalies including hypodontia, impaction (excluding third molars), supernumerary teeth, peg shaped laterals, hypercementosis, taurodontism and transposition were evaluated in the study.
Results: The most prevalent dental anomaly was found to be transposition (29.4%) followed by impaction (23.4%), hypodontia (21.2%), peg shaped lateral incisor (8.4%) and hypercementosis (3.1%). Only hypodontia showed statistically significant difference between males and females. Taurodontism and supernumerary teeth were the least prevalent anomaly at 1.4%.
Conclusion: Results of the study provide insights into the prevalence of dental anomalies in Najran population of Saudi Arabia. This data can be useful both epidemiologically and clinically to combat the problem of dental anomaly.