INFRAOCCLUSION OF DECIDUOUS MOLARS: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF PREVALENCE, CHARACTERISTICS AND ASSOCIATION WITH OTHER DENTAL ANOMALIES

Abstract

Objective. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of infraocclusion of deciduous molars and the pattern of associations with other dental anomalies.
Methods. Digital panoramic radiographs of 5005 subjects were initially randomly selected from the files of the Department of Orthodontics of the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. According to the exclusion criteria, the final sample was composed of 4706 subjects. Each panoramic radiograph was examined to evaluate the presence of infraocclusion and other common dental anomalies. Prevalence and pattern of associations were studied between the anomalies.
Results. The prevalence rate of infraocclusion of deciduous molars was 2.8% with a male/female ratio of 1.5:1. The most frequent infraocclusion was mandibular second deciduous molars (48.4%). Considering the magnitude of infraocclusion, 68.4% of the affected molars were classified as mild infraocclusion, 27.1% as moderate and 4.4% as severe. The prevalence of mandibular infraocclusion was higher than maxillary infraocclusion (189:36). Subjects with infraocclusion of deciduous molars exhibited an association with impacted teeth, supernumerary teeth and with displacement of maxillary canine.
Conclusion. The findings of our study support infraocclusion of deciduous molars as a factor of a common genetic condition associated with other dental anomalies.