A study of oligodontia in a sample of New Orleans children.

From this investigation, the following conclusions can be drawn. The prevalence of oligodontia in 847 New Orleans children was 7.44 +/- .9 percent with a total of 119 teeth absent in sixty-three subjects, excluding third molars. No statistically significant difference in prevalence occurred between the sexes. Difference in bilateral and unilateral tooth absence was not statistically significant. The teeth most frequently absent in decreasing order were the mandibular second premolar, maxillary lateral incisor, and maxillary second premolar. No statistically significant differences occurred in the frequency of absence of the mandibular second premolar and the maxillary lateral incisor. No statistically significant differences occurred in tooth absence for the following comparisons: Maxilla vs mandible . Bilateral vs unilateral . Right vs left.