Prevalence of congenitally missing second premolars

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of congenitally missing second premolars according to gender and localization. Materials and Methods: This study was performed on panoramic radiographs and clinical records of 7753 patients (4573 females and 3180 males) who referred to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department from January 2000 to December 2009. A total of 52 cases with congenitally missing second premolars were detected. The cases were evaluated according to gender, localization, unilateral or bilateral of occurrence, and anomaly. Results: 70 congenitally missing second premolars in 52 cases (13 males and 39 females) were found on 7753 radiographs. The prevalence of congenitally missing second premolars was found 3 times higher in females than in males, 4 times higher in mandible than in maxilla. A congenital anomaly was not determined. Conclusion: In this study, the prevalence of congenitally missing second premolars was found to be as 0.67%.