Prevalence of retained primary teeth among children with anterior arch crowding in Benin city, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Anterior arch crowding affects the anterior teeth which comprises two central incisors, two lateral incisors and canines. Several factors are often implicated in anterior arch crowding and these include amongst others mesiodistal arch width discrepancy, tooth-arch-size discrepancy and retained primary teeth in the anterior region which fail to exfoliate at the expected time.
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of retained primary teeth among Orthodontic patients with anterior arch crowding in Benin City.
Methodology: A total of 217 children (116 boys and 101 girls) aged 6-10 years, who attended the Orthodontic clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City over a one-year period, were examined for the presence of retained anterior primary teeth and their relationship with crowding in the anterior segment of the maxillary and mandibular arches. Statistical significance between frequencies and gender differences were evaluated with the chi-square test.
Results: The results revealed that anterior arch crowding was present in 34 (15.7%) of the total number of 217 subjects. Retained primary teeth were mostly responsible for anterior segment crowding and was observed in 31 (91.2%) of the 34 subjects with anterior arch crowding. The 7 and 8 year-old age groups exhibited a higher prevalence of anterior arch crowding, (29%), than the 6, 9 and 10-year olds. The lower lateral primary incisor was the most frequently retained tooth (32.3%). Girls showed a statistically significantly higher prevalence of anterior arch crowding than the boys (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in anterior arch crowding between the mandible and the maxilla (P>0.05).
Conclusion: This study revealed a high predominance of retained primary teeth amongst Orthodontic patients with anterior arch crowding in Benin City. This baseline information will aid in diagnosis, prevention, interception and management of anterior arch crowding in children due to prolonged retention of primary teeth.

Keywords: anterior arch crowding, retained primary teeth