Association between third molar agenesis and dental maturity in Brazilian children

The aim of the current study is to investigate if third molar agenesis is associated with dental maturity variations in Brazilian children. Radiographs of children from 10 to 15 years old were examined and patients with 32 teeth were included in the control group and patients with at least one third molar agenesis were included in the agenesis group. Demirjian's method was used to calculate dental age and evaluate dental maturity. Dental age was calculated using the Dental Age mobile app. The dental maturity was determined by calculating the difference between dental age and chronological age (DA-CA), in which positive, negative, and null values indicated advanced, delayed, or normal dental development, respectively. T test and ANOVA were used for comparisons. The Pearson correlation test was used to evaluate the relationship between chronological age and dental age (alpha = 5%). A total of 336 patients were included, 58 (17.3%) had at least one third molar agenesis. Third molar agenesis was associated with delayed dental maturity (p = 0.0294). Patients with 3 or 4 missing third molars had statistically significantly more delayed dental development compared with control patients (p = 0.0001) and patients with 1or 2 third molar agenesis (p = 0.0290). Individuals with third molar agenesis present delayed dental maturity. Our results also suggested that the number missing third molars are associated with the delayed maturity. Individuals with third molar agenesis showed delayed dental maturity, which was more pronounced in those missing three or four third molars. These findings suggest that the extent of agenesis is associated with the magnitude of maturational delay.