Tooth retention: analysis of prevalence among patients receiving orthodontic treatment

Aim.To analyze the prevalence of tooth eruption anomaly in the upper and lower jaws among patients and to determine the significance of local etiological factors in orthodontic patients during the period from 2020 to 2025. Materials and methods.A retrospective analysis of archival data from 3,905 patients was conducted to determine the frequency of tooth retention. A representative group of 717 individuals with diagnosed retention was selected. The etiological factors of retention were analyzed, including ankylosis, premature tooth extraction, supernumerary teeth, odontogenic tumors, traumatic injuries, and ectopic eruption pathways. Results and discussion.Clinical examination and analysis of orthopantomograms revealed 782 retained teeth among the 717 patients. Of these, 514 (65.73%) were located in the upper jaw and 268 (34.27%) in the lower jaw. In the upper jaw, retention of canines was most commonly observed, with frequencies of 17.52% in females and 15.47% in males, as well as retention of premolars (12.92% in females and 14.69% in males). In the lower jaw, premolars were the most commonly retained teeth, occurring in 11.25% of males and 10.49% of females, while the retention of second molars was 5.88% in males and 4.47% in females. Retention of incisors in the upper jaw was observed in 1.54% of females and 2.05% of males, whereas in the lower jaw, the rates were lower at 0.64% in females and 0.38% in males. Regarding etiological factors, the leading cause of retention was premature extraction of milk teeth (39.13%), followed by ectopic eruption pathway (27.88%), ankylosis (5.63%), supernumerary teeth (2.43%), odontogenic tumors (2.56%), and traumatic injuries (4.22%). In 144 cases (18.41%), the etiology of retention remained undetermined. Conclusion.According to the retrospective analysis, the highest frequency of retention is observed among the canines of the upper jaw. An increased incidence of premolar retention has been noted compared to previous studies. The results emphasize the significance of timely prevention and the necessity for further studies on the pathogenesis of retention, especially in cases with undetermined etiology.