A Retrospective Analysis of Radiographic Jaw Findings in Young Women; Prevalence and Predictors.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence and types of jaw pathologic findings as detected in panoramic radiographs of a sample of young women attending a teaching hospital in Al Madinah Al Munawarah, Saudi Arabia, and to determine the most important factors that predict the occurrence of jaw pathologic findings.


METHODS
The electronic clinical files of a representative sample of female patients who attended the outpatient dental clinics were retrieved. Patients were aged 18 to 25 years. Types of pathologic radiographic jaw findings and their prevalence were determined through screening of panoramic radiographs. Data were analyzed using the statistical analysis software [SPSS version 21 (IBM Corp.)]. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the significance of some types of dental lesions as predictor variables for the occurrence of jaw pathologic findings.


RESULTS
A total of 190 patients (mean age, 22.4 ± 2.46 years) were included in the study. Periapical lesions, retained roots, and alveolar bone loss were detected in 53.6%, 24.8%, and 17.4% of the participants, respectively. Other odontogenic abnormalities such as supernumerary and impacted teeth (6.4% and 33.7%, respectively) were also detected. Patients' age was found to be a good predictor for alveolar bone loss and number of periapical lesions (P≤ 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
A high prevalence of periapical lesions, retained roots, and alveolar bone loss was found among a sample of young female dental attendees, as shown by their panoramic radiographs. Further studies are needed to explore potential risk factors for such a noticeable trend of poor oral health, and the needed strategies to counteract this trend.
Department of Oral Medicine, Periodontology, Diagnosis and Oral Radiology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; Department of Basic and Clinical Oral Sciences, Taibah University Dental College and Hospital, Al Madinah Al Munawarah, Saudi Arabia.
Sara M
SM
El Khateeb
Department of Removable Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan; Department of Substitutive Dental Sciences, Taibah University Dental College and Hospital, Al Madinah Al Munawarah, Saudi Arabia.
Osama
O
Abu-Hammad
Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, Taibah University Dental College and Hospital, Al Madinah Al Munawarah, Saudi Arabia.
Hani
H
Fadel
Department of Basic and Clinical Oral Sciences, Taibah University Dental College and Hospital, Al Madinah Al Munawarah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine and Periodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Amman, Jordan.
Najla
N
Dar-Odeh
Alveolar bone loss; jaw lesions; periapical lesions; young women