Prevalence and clinical significance of distomolar and paramolar teeth

Paramolar and distomolar teeth are supernumerary teeth; paramolars are usually located on the buccal or lingual side of the molars, while distomolars are positioned behind the third molars. These teeth are generally asymptomatic and are detected incidentally during routine radiographic examination. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of paramolar and distomolar teeth in a group of Turkish patients and to evaluate their potential clinical implications. This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted by evaluating digital panoramic radiographs obtained from patients who visited the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology at Kahramanmaraş Sütçü Imam University Faculty of Dentistry. The study included a total of 10,000 panoramic radiographs (5097 male- 4903 female) from patients aged 18–65 years. The frequency of observation of distomolar and paramolar teeth and their possible clinical effects were investigated. Distomolar teeth were detected in 37 of the 10,000 patients examined (0.37%). Of these patients, 17 were female and 20 were male. A total of 53 distomolar teeth were observed. In terms of laterality, bilateral distomolars were present in 16 patients (43.24%), while unilateral distomolars were present in 21 patients (56.76%). Paramolar teeth were observed in 12 patients (0.12%), 9 males and 3 females, totaling 15 teeth. Of these teeth, 3 were bilateral (25%) and 9 were unilateral (75%). Distomolars and paramolars show a low prevalence in the population; however, their presence may influence occlusion, periodontal health, and third molar management. Early diagnosis through radiographic examination can be important, and surgical intervention may be considered if clinical or orthodontic complications are present.