Association between Sella Turcica Bridging and Hypodontia - A Radiographic Study

Background: The bridging of sella turcica and dental anomalies have common embryonic origins and underlying genetic basis. Many studies have linked sella turcica bridging to developmental syndromes affecting the craniofacial region, and local dental anomalies. The purpose of this study was to determine association between bridging of the sella turcica and hypodontia. Methods: The clinical records along with lateral cephalograms and orthopantamograms of 40 hypodontic patients as study sample (12 males and 28 females; mean age 13.9±2.5 years) and of 120 non hypodontic patients as control groups (58 males and 62 females; mean age 14.1±1.8 years) matched for age and gender to the study sample who came for orthodontic treatment, were collected from orthodontic clinics. Panoramic radiographs were evaluated for hypodontia. In order to quantify the extent of a sella turcica bridge on lateral cephalogram, the contour of the pituitary fossa from the tip of the dorsum sellae to the tuberculum sella was traced and extent of bridging was categorized by standardize scoring scale using comparative measurement of sella length and diameter. Results: The presence of complete bridging (17.5%) and partial bridging (55%) in patients with hypodontia was more than complete bridging (5%) and partial bridging (37.5%) in patients without hypodontia (controls). The association between the degree of bridging and hypodontia was statistically significant according to chi-square statistics (p=0.001). There were no statistical difference between the degree of calcification and gender (p=0.616). Conclusions: The prevalence of sella turcica bridging in patient with hypodontia was more and showed significant association between sella turcica bridging and hypodontia. There is no dependence between the degree of calcification and gender. As the sella turcica bridge appear early in life, it should alert clinicians as a useful diagnostic predictor to the possible development of tooth anomalies later in life.