A case-control study of dental development in Hypodontic and Hyperdontic children.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the rate of dental development in children with nonsyndromic hypodontia and nonsyndromic hyperdontia compared to age- and gender-matched controls.

METHODS

Dental age assessment was performed using orthopantomograms on 115 children (63 girls, 52 boys) with hypodontia and 61 children (22 girls, 39 boys) with hyperdontia and compared with 176 normal controls, case-matched for gender and age.

RESULTS

Both girls and boys with hypodontia showed a significant delay in dental development compared to case controls. The mean differences between dental age and chronological age in hypodontia girls and boys were -0.1+/-1.5 years and -0.1+/-1.2 years, respectively, compared to 1.0+/-1.0 years and 0.8+/-0.8 years in the case controls, respectively (P<.001 for both boys and girls). The delay in dental development was accentuated during puberty. By contrast, no significant differences were observed between hyperdontic children and case controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Nonsyndromic hypodontia children experience delayed dental development, whereas nonsyndromic hyperdontia children have similar rotes of dental development compared to normal children. These findings have implications for management of dental growth and development in children with agenesis of the teeth and supernumerary teeth.