Prevalence of Hypodontia in 10- to 14-Year-Olds Seeking Orthodontic Treatment at a Group of Clinics in Puerto Rico
Date
2014-03Author
Pagán-Collazo, Grace J.
Oliva, Jazmin
Cuadrado, Lumarie
Rivas-Tumanyan, Sona
Elías-Boneta, Augusto R.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of hypodontia in a group of 10- to 14-yearolds
from a group of orthodontic clinics in Puerto Rico.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence
of hypodontia in 10- to 14-year-olds from orthodontic clinics located in each of 9
regions (as determined by the government-run health insurance program, Reforma)
in Puerto Rico. A total of 1,911 patients, ranging in age from 10 to 14 years, were
evaluated using patient charts covering from May 2004 through June of that same
year. A logistic regression model was done to evaluate the relation between the
prevalence of hypodontia in the study group and clinic location, gender, and age; a
5% significance level was used.
Results: The overall weighted prevalence of hypodontia was 6.02%. Females
showed a higher weighted prevalence of hypodontia than did males (7.02% vs.
4.72%, respectively: p=0.06). The prevalence also varied by geographic region, ranging
from 3.21% at the San Juan clinic to 10.68% at the Aibonito clinic (p=0.01). The most
prevalent missing teeth were the maxillary lateral incisors, followed by the lower
second premolars (1.9%).
Conclusion: The prevalence of hypodontia in Puerto Rico was 6.02%. Females
presented a higher prevalence of hypodontia than did males. Each of the clinics in
Fajardo, Bayamón, San Juan, and Guayama had a lower prevalence of hypodontia
than the Aibonito clinic did. The tooth most frequently missing in the study group
was the maxillary right lateral incisor.[P R Health Sci J 2014;33:9-13]