Description
Missing teeth (Hypodontia)
“Hypodontia is when there is a developmental absence of one or more teeth, excluding third molars.”
– Goodman et al. 1994
Missing teeth (hypodontia) most often affects lower second premolars (3%), upper second premolars (3%), upper lateral incisors (2%) and lower incisors (<1%) (Khalaf et al. 2014). There are ethnic and geographical differences – for example, Africa has the highest hypodontia rates at 13.4%, followed by Europe at 7%, Asia at 6.3%, North America at 5% and Latin America at 4.4% (Khalaf et al. 2014). There is a higher prevalence in females (Polder et al. 2004). Asian populations have a higher prevalence of lower incisor agenesis (Wisth et al. 1974).
It is associated with microdontia, diminutive lateral incisors, ectopic canines and some developmental disorders (i.e. cleft lip and palate) and syndromes (i.e. Down’s syndrome, ectodermal dysplasia etc.). (Graber 1978, Peck et al. 1996).
