Comparison of psychomotor performance in subjects with congenital tooth agenesis to those with normal dentition

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare oral psychomotor performance in subjects with congenital tooth agenesis to control subjects having normal full complement of teeth.

STUDY DESIGN: lt was a cross sectional comparative study.

PLACE & DURATION: This study was conducted in the Department of Prosthodontics, de'Montmorency College of Dentistry/ Punjab Dental Hospital, Lahore Pakistan from June 15th, 2006 to December 14^th,2006.

PATIENTS & METHODS: Forty subjects with diagnosed tooth agenesis were selected using purposive, nonprobability technique. Forty other subjects with normal complement of teeth were also selected as a control group. These were dental students of third and final year. Oral psychomotor performance scores were calculated using specific test samples for both groups. Results were analyzed and compared using descriptive statistical analysis protocol.

RESULTS: lntra oral psychomotor performance time scores were higher in subjects with tooth agenesis 133.7±36.8 as compared to72.7±32.7 in control group p value < 0.01) t value 7.8). lt confirms that the affected subjects had some difficulty in perceiving and then in giving proper intra oral psychomotor response. Mean values and standard deviation were calculated for age, whereas frequency in percentage was calculated for gender and severity of the tooth agenesis state. These groups were compared for any significant differences in the oral psychomotor ability scores using t-test.

CONCLUSION: lntra oral psychomotor performance was impaired in subjects with tooth agenesis as compared to those with normal set of dentition.