Esthetic impact of maxillary midline diastema and mandibular crowding in children in the mixed dentition

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the esthetic impact of mandibular crowding and maxillary midline diastema in children in the mixed dentition.

Methods: The sample for this cross-sectional study comprised 785 children, aged 8-10 years, in the late mixed dentition. Mandibular crowding and maxillary midline diastema were evaluated clinically with the Dental Aesthetic Index. Mandibular crowding and maxillary midline diastema were evaluated to determine tooth size-arch length discrepancies. The sample was stratified as group 1, children without maxillary midline diastema or mandibular crowding (n = 177); group 2, children with maxillary midline diastema (n = 256); group 3, children with mandibular crowding (n = 208); and group 4, children with maxillary midline diastema and mandibular crowding (n = 144). The subjective esthetic impact was evaluated using the Orthodontic Aesthetic Subjective Impact Score. Descriptive and exploratory analyses of the data were performed. A generalized linear model was applied, adjusted for the possible confounding variables (age, gender, and race) with a significance level of 5% because the Orthodontic Aesthetic Subjective Impact Score did not meet the assumptions of analysis of variance.

Results: Children in groups 2 and 3 showed greater esthetic concern than group 1 (P <0.05). Children in groups 2 and 3 did not show a significant difference with children in group 4 (P >0.05).

Conclusions: Children with mixed dentition with mandibular crowding or maxillary median diastema reported significantly more esthetic concern than children without these conditions.