Shovel-shaped incisors in the Black Sea region population of Turkey

Abstract

Background/purpose: Shovel-shaped incisors are teeth with thick marginal ridges surrounding a deep lingual fossa. They have a higher prevalance in Asian racial groups. In this study, we aimed to find the incidence of shovel shaped incisors in Turkish population, distribution of them according to teeth and sex, and to show the relationship between SSI and the other morphological changes.

Materials and methods: The study was carried out on 3960 women and men. Shovel-shaped incisors were detected on 437 individuals. Photographic images of the palatinal surfaces were obtained and after the examiantion of high resolution digitalized images by two observers, teeth of 400 individuals were diagnosed as shovel-shaped. Teeth were classified as "Trace shovel" (type I), "semi shovel" (type II), and "shovel-shaped" (type III) according to the Hrdlicka's scale. the results were analyzed with Chi-square (chi(2)) test.

Results: Prevalence was 10.1%. Shovel-shaped incisors were found in both central incisors and lateral incisors of 273 individuals (68.5%), solely in lateral incisors of 119 individuals (29.5%), and in both maxillary central and lateral incisors and canines of 8 individuals (2%). Shovel-shaped incisors were present in the teeth of 228 women and in the teeth of 172 men (P = 0.015). The majority of the inisors were showing Type II severity (in the central-lateral incisor group 127 individuals, in the lateral group 71 individuals (P = 0.013). Thirty-four accompanied dental anomalies were dens in dente, Talon cusp, peg-shaped laterals, microdonty, and cingulum hypertrophy was 34. Dens in dente constituted the majority (n = 23, ratio = 67.6%).

Conclusion: The incidence of shovel-shaped incisors was 10.1% in our study group; SSI affected lateral incisors more than central incisors; the number of women reflecting SSI was higher than men; and the majority of individuals had Type II (semi-shovel) severity. Copyright (C) 2013, Association for Dental Sciences of the Republic of China. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved.