The Prevalence of Peg-shaped Maxillary Permanent Lateral Incisors in the Turkish Population

Aim The development of human dentition is influenced by a complex interplay of diverse factors spanning epigenetic, environmental, physical, chemical, biological, and genetic realms. Variations in the morphology and dimensions of upper lateral incisors have been documented, commonly resulting in a reduction in mesiodistal size, a phenomenon often referred to as "peg-shaped laterals". This study aimed to explore the prevalence of peg-shaped maxillary permanent lateral incisors while investigating potential correlations with gender and laterality. Material and method The study comprised 1076 Turkish individuals, aged between 18 and 75, who sought treatment at the Istanbul University Restorative Dentistry Clinic. Prior to examination, participants provided voluntary consent by completing consent forms. To ensure precision and consistency, all examinations were conducted by a single clinician with a minimum of twenty years of clinical experience. Patient selection adhered to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Anamnestic data, encompassing age, gender, past dental history, general health status, and intraoral examination findings, were documented. Examinations focused on the anterior region, specifically between the maxillary canine teeth. Results Peg-shaped incisors were noted in 7.2% of cases (n=77), with 54 cases being unilateral and 23 bilateral. Among the cases, 7.4% (n=52) were observed in females and 6.7% (n=25) in males. A total of 97 peg-shaped incisors were identified in both left and right maxillary lateral incisors. Conclusion The research took place in Istanbul, Türkiye, a cosmopolitan metropolis. Expanding such investigations to various regions within Türkiye would yield a richer and more comprehensive dataset, enhancing the study's significance.