Prevalence of cross-bite in a sample of Italian preschoolers

Authors:

ABSTRACT

Aim

To clinically evaluate the prevalence of cross-bite in a sample of 1960 children in our Local Health Unit n. 15 Alta
Padovana (Veneto region, Northeast Italy).

Methods

Study design: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the area of Health
District n. 15, Veneto region, including 7,364 children from 3 to 5 years, attending a total of 88 nursery schools A convenience sample of
27 nursery schools (30 of total) was randomly selected, for a total of 2,603 eligible children; of these, 1960 children formed our
study base (76). The day of examination 566 children were absent and 77 did not meet the inclusion criteria by age (less than 3
or more than 5 years old). Anterior cross-bite was considered when one or more primary or permanent mandibular incisors occluded
labially to their antagonists. Posterior cross-bite (uni- or bilateral) was considered when the buccal cusps of one or more maxillary teeth
was lingual to the buccal cusps of the mandibular teeth of the primary dentition. In this definition, edge to edge occlusion is not regarded
as cross-bite. The examination was carried out by two calibrated dentists with children sitting on a dental chair with good operative
lighting. The data were recorded in a special clinical chart.

Results

The prevalence of cross-bite was 3.7. We observed a
slight prevalence of cross-bite in females, but with no overall statistical significance.

Conclusion

The prevalence of cross-bite in this
area was low compared with European and American data.

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