Dental anomalies and associated factors in 2- to 5-year-old Brazilian children.

BACKGROUND

Dental anomalies in primary teeth may lead to functional and aesthetic disorders, and their recognition contributes to early diagnosis and long-term treatment planning.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the prevalence of dental anomalies in primary dentition and associated factors in Brazilian preschoolers.

METHODS

The study population of this cross-sectional study comprised 1260 2- to 5-year-old children from public nurseries in Canoas, southern Brazil. Dental anomalies were recorded by five trained examiners according to Kreiborg criteria; classification included double teeth, hypodontia, supernumerary, and microdontia.

RESULTS

Dental anomalies as a group were found in 2.5% of children, although no significant difference occurred between genders and races. All the anomalies were observed in the anterior region, with no significant differences between the arches. However, supernumerary teeth were significantly more frequent among the non-white racial group (Fisher; P = 0.025) and double teeth on the lower arch (McNemar; P = 0.020). Individual anomaly frequencies were: double teeth, 1.3%; hypodontia, 0.6%; supernumerary, 0.3%; and microdontia, 0.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of primary dentition anomalies as a group was greater than that reported in other populations; the findings of this study provide a clear vision of the distribution of this oral condition and may well contribute to early detection and treatment planning.