The prevalence of root dilacerations in a Turkish population.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of root dilaceration in a Turkish dental patient population, considering factors such as dental localization and the relationship between the sexes in this anomaly. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective study was performed using periapical radiography of 2,124 patients, who ranged in age from 15 to 65 years old. All data (age, sex and systemic disease or syndrome) were obtained from the patient files and analyzed for root dilaceration. Descriptive characteristics of sexes, jaws, and dental localization were recorded. The Pearson chi-squared test was used. RESULTS Of the 2,251 patients, 214 (9.5%) were found to have root dilaceration. Root dilacerations were determined in 276 (4.3%) of 6386 teeth, belonging to a total of 2251 patients. Anomalies were found in 9.8% of males, compared with 9.3% of females, a difference that was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Root dilacerations were distributed fairly evenly between the maxilla and mandible. The most frequently root dilacerated teeth were found to be mandibular third molars (12.8%), followed by maxillary third molars (7.4%), and maxillary first molars (6.7%). Root dilaceration was not detected in maxillary central incisors, mandibular central incisors or mandibular lateral incisors. CONCLUSION root dilaceration is an uncommon developmental anomaly which occurs mostly in the posterior teeth, which are not prone to suffer trauma. The radiographic diagnosis of this anomaly is important before surgery, and especially before endodontic treatment or orthodontic treatment.