An audit of concomitant dental anomalies with maxillary talon cusps in a group of children from Hong Kong.

AIM: To investigate the prevalence of various concomitant dental anomalies in Hong Kong children with true talon cusps on the permanent maxillary incisors.

METHODS

Dental records and radiographs of a group of Hong Kong Chinese primary schoolchildren with true talon cusps (half crown height or more) on one or more permanent maxillary incisors were selected and studied retrospectively. The prevalence of various dental anomalies in this group of children was compared with that of the general population of Hong Kong Chinese children of similar age.

RESULTS

A total of 11,537 records were reviewed and 58 children with true talon cusps on one or more permanent maxillary incisors were identified. A total of 69 permanent maxillary incisors were affected, of which all except one were lateral incisors. Dens evaginatus on premolars, supernumerary teeth in the anterior maxilla, and hypodontia were found in 5 (8.6%), 5 (8.6%), and 5 (8.6%) cases respectively. The prevalence of supernumerary teeth was significantly higher in children with true talon cusps as compared with the results of two previous general studies of Chinese children of similar age (P<0.05, Fisher's exact test).

CONCLUSION

Children with true talon cusps on the permanent maxillary incisors were more frequently affected by supernumerary teeth in the anterior maxilla. Further studies with a larger sample are needed to confirm a true association.