Prevalence and characteristics of supernumerary teeth in east-northern Turkish population

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency and the distribution of supernumerary teeth (ST) in patients from east-northern Turkey. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was performed using panoramic radiographs of 1876 patients [673 females (mean age: 13.05±2.79 years) and 1203 males (mean age: 13.63±3.18 years)] ranging in age from 7 to 34 years (mean age: 13.39±3.05 years). Demographic variables including age and sex, the type, number, eruption status of the ST were recorded. In addition, associated pathologies or complications (displacement, eruption failure, resorption of adjacent tooth, and cyst formation) caused by ST were also recorded. The Pearson chi-squared test was used to determine potential differences between genders. Results: ST were detected in 15 patients (0.75 %). The frequency of males and females with ST was 1.16 % and 0.49 %, respectively (P= 0.944). The most commonly observed ST was premolar (33.33%) followed by mesiodens (26.67%), distomolar (20.0%), lateral (13.33%), paramolar (6.67%), respectively. Most of the ST were found to be unilateral, impacted, and in the maxilla. Complications associated with ST were observed in 20.0% of the patients with ST. Conclusions: The frequency of ST in east-northern Turkish general population was found to be 0.75% with no gender difference (p>0.05). The most commonly observed ST was premolar followed by mesiodens.