Taurodontism in children with hypodontia and supernumerary teeth: a case control study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present investigation was to compare the prevalence of taurodontism in the permanent mandibular first molars of nonsyndromic children with hypodontia and supernumerary teeth with age- and gender-matched controls.


METHODS
The crown-body root ratios of the permanent first molars were determined from orthopantomograms of 83 children with hypodontia (> or =1 missing teeth) and 37 children with supernumerary teeth (> or =1 extra teeth) compared with normal case controls.


RESULTS
In children with hypodontia, only girls showed a significantly higher tendency for taurodontism compared to case controls (P=.003), while boys with hypodontia showed a similar prevalence of taurodontism as controls (P=.83). Children with multiple missing teeth were significantly more susceptible to taurodontism than children with a single missing tooth (P=.004). By contrast, the prevalence of taurodontism in children with supernumerary teeth was not significantly different from that of controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared to normal case controls, children with nonsyndromic hypodontia are more likely to show taurodontism of the permanent first molar teeth whereas children with nonsyndromic supernumerary teeth are not.
Kan
Wayne Y W
WY
Logan-Beaudesert Division, Metro South Health Service District, Queensland Health, Queensland, Australia.
Seow
W Kim
WK
Holcombe
Trevor
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000848:Anodontia / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications*; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000002:abnormalities; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000002:abnormalities; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000002:abnormalities*; D009811:Odontometry; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012737:Sex Factors; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000002:abnormalities; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000002:abnormalities; D014096:Tooth, Supernumerary / Q000150:complications*