title: Prevalence of ponticulus posticus among patients with different dental malocclusions by digital lateral cephalogram: a comparative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of ponticulus posticus among patients with dental Angle class I, II, and III malocclusions in Middle Anatolian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1246 cephalometric radiographs were examined in a 6 months period. Each patient was assigned an identification number, and demographic information, absence/presence of PP, if present, type of PP and type of dental malocclusion were recorded by two observers. In cases where there was any disagreement, a third observer was consulted. Distributions of obtained values were analysed using Pearson's Chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of subjects was 20.98 ± 6.95 years (range 10-39). In the analysed sample, PP had a prevalence of 18.8 % (complete form 9.6 %, incomplete form 9.2 %). There was a significant difference between genders (p = 0.002) (more prevalent in male patients: 119/522; 23 %). No significant difference was found between age groups (p > 0.05). PP was most frequently detected in Angle class III patients (78/351; 22.2 %) but there was no significant difference between malocclusion groups (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, PP is found to be a relatively common anomaly in patients with dental malocclusions. Although Angle class III patients showed a higher frequency of PP, statistically no significant difference was found among dental malocclusion groups.
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Turkey. m_zahit@hotmail.com.
authors: Mehmet Zahit
authors: MZ
authors: Adisen
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Turkey.
authors: Melda
authors: M
authors: Misirlioglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D001270:Cervical Atlas / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D009139:Musculoskeletal Abnormalities / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D012737:Sex Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dental malocclusion; Lateral cephalometric radiography; Ponticulus posticus