Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to analyze the clinical characteristics and complications of patients with mesiodens.
Patients and methods: Using the radiographic reviews of patients who visited Seoul National University Dental Hospital from January 2005 through January 2008, 919 patients were identified as having mesiodens (total 1,200 mesiodentes). The number, location, position, eruption status, shape, direction, and complications of the mesiodens and gender and age were collected and analyzed.
Results: The mean patient age was 11.05 years (median 7.58) with a male/female ratio of 2.74:1. The results showed that 71.38% of the patients had 1 mesiodens, 27.75% had 2, 0.65% had 3, and 0.22% had 4 mesiodentes. Complications occurred in 46.92% of the mesiodentes. Of the complications, midline diastema was observed in 35.34%, delayed eruption in 20.60%, displacement in 16.60%, rotation in 11.02%, root resorption of adjacent teeth in 7.58%, cystic changes or cyst formation in 5.29%, and nasal eruption in 3.58%.
Conclusions: Complications were found in approximately one half of the patients with a mesiodens. Early detection and timely surgical intervention should be emphasized to prevent unwanted complications.