Prevalence and risk indicators of primary dentition malocclusion in Riyadh-Saudi Arabia using a new case definition: A cross-sectional study

Hoda M Abdellatif; Nozha Sawan; Amjad M Alabdulmohsen; Ghaida AlKheraif; Haifa AlKhonin; Amal Ali; Mona A Elkateb

doi:10.1016/j.sdentj.2023.09.003

Prevalence and risk indicators of primary dentition malocclusion in Riyadh-Saudi Arabia using a new case definition: A cross-sectional study

Saudi Dent J. 2024 Jan;36(1):60-65. doi: 10.1016/j.sdentj.2023.09.003. Epub 2023 Sep 7.

Authors

Hoda M Abdellatif¹, Nozha Sawan², Amjad M Alabdulmohsen³, Ghaida AlKheraif⁴, Haifa AlKhonin⁵, Amal Ali^{6

7}, Mona A Elkateb^{6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Public Health Sciences Department, College of Dentistry, Texas A&M University, Texas, USA.
² Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, King Saud University, College of Dentistry, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Periodontics Demonstrator, College of Dentistry, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ General Practitioner, College of Dentistry, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
⁷ Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of primary dentition malocclusion and its linked risk indicators among a group of Saudi preschool children.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on preschool children aged 3 to 5 years residing in Riyadh City, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The study sample included 709 Saudi children of both genders with complete primary dentition. Oral examination was conducted for children to assess the anteroposterior, transverse, and vertical dimensions, arch spacings, and oral habits.

Results: The prevalence of malocclusion was 59.1% among the study participants. A deep overbite and increased overjet were found in 26.23 % and 25.11%, respectively. Arch space problems were reported, including missing primate spaces in 24.12%, missing developmental spacing in 27.93%, and crowding in 14.1%. An association between mothers aged 25 years and younger at childbirth was linked with their child's malocclusion in the primary dentition (p-value of 0.03).

Conclusion: The prevalence of primary dentition malocclusion among a specific group of Saudi preschool children was significantly high. Increased overbite and overjet were the most prevalent occlusal discrepancies, followed by arch spacing problems. The younger mother's age at childbirth is significantly associated with her child's malocclusion. The study results can serve as a baseline for future investigations.

Keywords: Malocclusion; Occlusal characteristics; Prevalence; Primary dentition; Risk indicators.