title: Prevalence of ponticulus posticus in Indian orthodontic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of complete ponticulus posticus in Indian orthodontic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presence and types of ponticuli posticus were investigated on 858 lateral cephalograms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete ponticulus posticus was found in 4.3% of the subjects studied with a male (5.33%) predominance over female in the population (3.76%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ponticulus posticus is not a rare anomaly and the patient must be told of the implications and importance of detecting ponticulus posticus on a lateral cephalogram. This information can prove beneficial for the diagnosis of head and neck symptoms later.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Department of Dental Surgery, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune - 411040, India. vinteeortho@yahoo.com
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mitra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001270:Cervical Atlas / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult