title: Clinical evaluation of nonsyndromic dental anomalies in Dravidian population: A cluster sample analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To record the prevalence rate of dental anomalies in Dravidian population and analyze the percentage of individual anomalies in the population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cluster sample analysis was done, where 244 subjects studying in a dental institution were all included and analyzed for occurrence of dental anomalies by clinical examination, excluding third molars from analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  31.55% of the study subjects had dental anomalies and shape anomalies were more prevalent (22.1%), followed by size (8.6%), number (3.2%) and position anomalies (0.4%). Retained deciduous was seen in 1.63%. Among the individual anomalies, Talon's cusp (TC) was seen predominantly (14.34%), followed by microdontia (6.6%) and supernumerary cusps (5.73%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence rate of dental anomalies in the Dravidian population is 31.55% in the present study, exclusive of third molars. Shape anomalies are more common, and TC is the most commonly noted anomaly. Varying prevalence rate is reported in different geographical regions of the world.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Vivekanandha Dental College for Women, Tiruchengo, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Andamuthu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamunadevi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology, Mahe Institute of Dental Science and Hospital, Mahe, U.T. of Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Selvamani
authors.affiliation: Undergraduate Dental student, Vivekanandha Dental College for Women, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vinitha
authors.affiliation: Undergraduate Dental student, Vivekanandha Dental College for Women, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Srivandhana
authors.affiliation: Undergraduate Dental student, Vivekanandha Dental College for Women, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balakrithiga
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, Chettinad Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prabhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Vivekanandha Dental College for Women, Tiruchengo, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ganapathy
keywords: Dental anomalies; Dravidian population; Talon's cusp