Anomalies in primary dentition: Their distribution and correlation with permanent dentition

BACKGROUND: Anomalies in primary dentition are often found to be associated with anomalies in permanent dentition. AIMS: This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of supernumerary teeth, hypodontia, double teeth, and talon cusp in the primary dentition, and their effect on succedaneous permanent teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study, we clinically investigated 2757 Bengali speaking nursery children (1474 girls and 1283 boys), of age four to six years, at their respective schools, and the presence of supernumerary teeth, hypodontia, double teeth, and talon cusp in the primary dentition were recorded. Children with anomalous primary teeth were further subjected to periapical and panoramic radiographic examination, to determine the status of the underlying permanent teeth. RESULTS: The total prevalence of all anomalies in this study was 1.8%. A total of 38 children (21 girls and 17 boys) had anomalies. The prevalence of anomalies was as follows: Supernumerary teeth (0.4%), hypodontia (0.5%), double teeth (0.4%), and talon cusp (0.07%), in both sexes combined. Radiographic examination showed 50% of the patients (19 children) had anomalies in the permanent dentition. CONCLUSIONS: Anomalies in primary dentition exhibited a correlation with anomalies in permanent dentition.