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

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the esthetic impact of mandibular crowding and maxillary midline diastema in children in the mixed dentition. The sample for this cross-sectional study comprised 785 children, aged 8-10years, 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. 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). Children with mixed dentition with mandibular crowding or maxillary median diastema reported significantly more esthetic concern than children without these conditions.