Study of dento-alveolar changes in patients with hypodontia

Introduction: Congenital absence of teeth is one of the most prevalent craniofacial malformation and dental disorder. Hypodontia may present with varying degrees of severity. The absence of all teeth (anodontia) is rare. Based on epidemiological studies, it is more common in the permanent dentition, then in deciduous teeth. Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare the dento-alveolar changes, on panoramic radiographs, between patients with hypodontia from the case group and subjects without tooth agenesis from the control group. Method: Measurements were performed on panoramic radiographs. The results were compared between the patients with hypodontia and the subjects from the control group. Dento-alveolar linear and angular measurements were performed. The mean age of the 60 subjects was 14.15 ± 4.48 years, to which a control group was assigned with a mean age 13.98 ± 4.07 years. 70% of the study population were female and 30% were male. Results: We found statistically significant differences between the case group and the control group in the case of transverse measurements and unilateral linear measurements (p<0.01). Conclusion: Hypodontia will affect the transversal development of mandibular dento-alveolar structures, and will cause the decrease of gonial angle.