title: Prevalence of dilaceration in Jordanian adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of dilaceration in a sample of Jordanian dental patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were collected from examination of radiographs from a random sample of periapical films. In all, 4655 teeth from 814 dental records at the Faculty of Dentistry, Irbid, Jordan were evaluated. The films were viewed using a magnifying lens and an X-ray viewer. A tooth was recorded as having a dilaceration towards the mesial or distal direction if there was a 90 angle or greater along its long axis using a small ruler aligned along the pulp of the tooth. Dilacerated roots towards the buccal or lingual directions were determined by evaluating the appearance of a round opaque area with a dark shadow in its central region, cast by the apical foramen in which the root canal gave a 'bulls-eye' appearance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dilacerations were recorded in 3.78% of the teeth examined. Mandibular third molar teeth were the most commonly affected (19.2%) followed by mandibular first molars (5.6%). The maxillary anterior teeth and mandibular incisors were least affected exhibiting dilaceration in approximately 1% of teeth. Two-thirds of the dilacerations were in the mandible and approximately 5% were in anterior teeth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dilaceration is not common, but it is an important dental anomaly that affects all teeth. Recognizing the condition will facilitate endodontic, orthodontic and surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. hamasha@just.edu.jo
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hamasha
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Al-Khateeb
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Darwazeh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003481:Cuspid / Q000002:abnormalities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000002:abnormalities; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008437:Maxilla; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar / Q000002:abnormalities; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000002:abnormalities; D015995:Prevalence; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000002:abnormalities*; D014097:Tooth, Unerupted / Q000453:epidemiology