Hypodontia Prevalence over Four Decades in a S lovenian Population

AIM: This study was performed to determine the prevalence of hypodontia of permanent teeth in the Slovenian population and whether such prevalence is associated with the year of birth. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The prevalence of hypodontia in the Slovenian population, both male and female, and the association between tooth types, the upper or lower arch, the associated dental anomalies, and orthodontic treatment were studied using interviews and oral and panoramic radiographic examinations of 2,546 Slovenians born in years 1966, 1976, 1986, and 1996. The data were processed using Chi-square test. RESULTS: Among the 2,546 subjects studied, 307 teeth were missing in 175 subjects. The overall prevalence of hypodontia, excluding the third molars, was 6.9%; and there was no statistically significant difference with the year of birth. The most commonly missing teeth were the mandibular second premolar (38.8%), followed by the maxillary lateral incisors (32.6%). The majority (86.9%) of patients with hypodontia were missing only one or two teeth. Subjects with hypodontia (54.9%) were more often involved in orthodontic treatment than subjects without hypodontia (20.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The relatively high prevalence of hypodontia and its frequent association with other dental anomalies emphasizes the importance of dental examination in early childhood with radiographic screening for hypodontia as standard public oral health policy. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The relatively high prevalence of hypodontia in Slovenians and its frequent association with other dental anomalies emphasizes the importance of dental examination with radiographic screening of hypodontia in childhood as part of public oral health policy.