The prevalence of dental anomalies in an Australian population.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dental anomalies within an Australian paediatric population using panoramic radiographs. METHODS: This was a prospective review of 1050 panoramic radiographs obtained as part of a school dental screening program in suburban and rural New South Wales, Australia. RESULTS: Fifty-four (5.14%) patients had a dental anomaly present. Agenesis was noted to have occurred 69 times across 45 patients (4.28%), along with seven cases of impaction (0.6%) and three cases of supernumerary teeth (0.28%). CONCLUSIONS: Dental anomalies rarely occur in the Australian population, which possesses a wide-ranging multiethnic cohort. Despite their rarity, they can be incidentally discovered so identification and management by dental practitioners are important.