A study of macrodontia of the permanent maxillary central incisors among Delta State University students in Abraka, Nigeria

Abstract

Macrodontia (or megadontia) is a rare dental anomaly characterized by excessive enlargement of all tooth structures, and in few cases may be associated with morphological anomalies. The goal of this study was to find out how common macrodontia of the maxillary central incisors was among Delta State University students in Abraka. The Research and Ethical Committee of the Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Delta State University, Abraka, gave approval for this study. A descriptive cross-sectional survey with a representative sample of 102 subjects was conducted (58 female and 44 male). The method used was a simple random sampling technique. The age and sex of each subject were obtained using a data form, and intra-oral measurements of the mesio-distal width of the maxillary right central incisors were taken. Results were arranged according to age and sex to ascertain the occurrence of sexual dimorphism; independent sample t test and chi-square test were used as inferential statistical tools. The prevalence of macrodontia was 35.3%; there was a significant sex difference, as p value was <0.05; there was no significant difference within the age groups, as p-value was > 0.05. The mean mesio-distal width was 8.54±0.25 mm in those who did not have macrodontia and 9.63±0.54 mm in those who did have macrodontia. Macrodontia of central incisors is dominant amid Delta State University learners in Abraka.