FREQUENCY AND GRADING OF SUPERNUMERARY CUSPS IN PERMANENT HUMAN TEETH OF PATIENTS VISITING THE TEACHING HOSPITALS OF PESHAWAR DENTAL COLLEGE AND KHYBER COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY, PESHAWAR

Objectives: To document the frequency and grading of supernumerary cusps in permanent teeth in patients visiting Peshawar Dental College and Khyber College of Dentistry Peshawar.Methods and materials: A cross sectional study was carried out in which 753 patients attending the outdoor patients department who fulfi lled the inclusion criteria were examined, out of which 229 (Males: 122, Females: 107) were recruited for participation in the study through consecutive sampling technique. Age group selected for the study was from 13 to 50 years. The patients were examined 4 days a week until the required sample size was accomplished. Permanent maxillary first molars and permanent maxillary incisors (central, lateral) were studied for the presence of cusp of Carabelli and Talon cusp respectively, while mandibular second premolars were examined for central cusp. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 and statistical analysis was done using Chi-square test.Results: The overall frequency of supernumerary cusps was calculated to be 30.4% out of which cusp of Carabelli was29.1% and Talon cusp was 1.33%. Gender-wise distribution was significant at p<0.05. In the present study, grade III (overlapped tubercle) showed the highest degree of expression of cusp of Carabelli and type 3 Talon cusp was prevalent in our local population.Conclusion: Amongst the reported frequency of supernumerary cusps, cusp of Carabelli occurrence was higher in our local population with a signifi cant diff erence seen among genders. Central cusp was not seen in any of the subjects. There was higher incidence of cusp of Carabelli in male patients compared to Talon cusp which was more frequently present in females.