VARIATION OF CUSPS IN MANDIBULAR SECOND PREMOLAR TEETH AMONG PATIENTS VISITING DENTAL OPD AT BACHA KHAN MEDICAL COLLEGE MARDAN, PAKISTAN

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mandibular second premolars vary in types of cusps. This tooth may exhibit a two cusps type (bicuspid) or a three cusps type (tricuspid). Previous Studies have found that tricuspid form is more common than bicuspid form. Current study was conducted to determine the frequency of two variants of mandibular second premolar cusps unilaterally or bilaterally in male and female patients visiting dental section of Bacha Khan Medical College, district Mardan, of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
METHODS: : The descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in dental section outpatient department of Bacha Khan Medical College Mardan, Pakistan. The study was approved by ethical committee of the college A total of 100 questions were asked (50 from males and 50 from females) using convenient sampling technique through a customized structured questionnaire. . Data was cross checked for errors and analyzed using SPSS version 17. Descriptive statistics were conducted and Chi-Square test was used to find the p value and statistical difference among groups.
RESULTS: Two cusp typesin mandibular second premolar were seen in 73% patients having bilateral presentation. This bilateral presentation was seen more significantly in females (57%). Similarly in the right quadrant the frequency of bicuspids was more common in females (56%) while males showed tricuspid phenomenon more (68%) on the same side of the arch. Statistically it was found that frequency of two cusps in right mandibular premolar is significantly more in females than males while the frequency of three cusps type in right mandibular premolar is significantly more in males than females. No significant difference on the left side of the arch was seen in males and females. Female patients were also exhibiting more of bicuspid and tricuspid variety in lower second premolars with (n=42, 57%) and (n=6, 55%) respectively than male patients. P value showed thatbilateral presentation of two cusps in lower second premolars is more significant in females than males however no significant difference in the frequency of bilateral presentation of three cusps type was seen in male and female patients.
CONCLUSION: Bilateral two cusps presentation of mandibular second premolar is more common and is more pronounced in females than males. Females showed two cusps while males presented with three cusps in unilateral presentation on right side of the dental arch No significant difference is seen on left side of the dental arch with regards to number of cusps.
KEY WORDS: Mandibular, Cusps, Tricuspid, Bicuspid, Second Premolar.