Agenesis of Third Molars among Turkish Children between the Ages of 12 and 18 Years: A Retrospective Radiographic Study

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the agenesis of third molars (M3) in children with permanent dentition in a limited population in the province of Izmir, Turkey. Study design: The panoramic radiographs of 773 patients (457 females, 316 males) were evaluated retrospectively at the Dental Hospital of Ministry of Health in İzmir, Turkey. The patients' ages ranged from 12–18 years. The agenesis of M3 teeth was investigated according to maxilla and mandible and right and left distribution. Results: In 593 of the patients (76.7%), all of the M3 teeth were present in the mouth; while in the other 180 (23.3%) patients, agenesis of a varying number of M3 teeth was identified. In 31 patients (4.0%), total M3 tooth agenesis was observed. A statistically significant relationship was not found between gender and M3 teeth (p=0.091). A statistically significant relationship was found between congenital M3 tooth agenesis and the maxilla (14.3%) and mandible (9.6%) (p<0.001). However, a statistically significant difference was not found between the right–left area of the jaw (p=0.100). Conclusion: As a result, while all M3 teeth were present in 76.71% of the population studied in the province of Izmir, agenesis of one or more than one M3 tooth was found in the other 23.29% of the patients studied.

Agenesis, third molar, frequency, orthopantomography

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