Objective: To determine the prevalence and distribution of dilaceration in all tooth groups by using radiographs.
Study design: The sample included 953 periapical intraoral radiographs and 488 panoramic radiographs from different caucasian patients. The ages of the patients ranged from 18-65 years. Dilaceration of the root was detected by measuring the degree of deviation from the long axis (deviation ł 90 degrees), and evaluating the "bull's eye" appearance. The prevalence of root dilaceration for each tooth-type was expressed in percentages.
Results: The teeth showing the highest prevalence of root dilaceration were mandibular third molars (24.1%), maxillary first molars (15.3%), second molars (11.4%) and third molars (8.1%). In the mandible, dilacerations were less common than in the maxilla.
Conclusions: In the adult population examined in Croatia, dilaceration was most frequently found to affect posterior teeth.