Prevalence of Dental Midline Shifting in a Sample of Orthodontic Patients in Erbil City

Abstract

Aim of the study: the study aimed to determine the prevalence of dental midline shifting in a group of orthodontic patients. Methodology: The study was conducted on 506 orthodontic patients (183 boys and 323 girls), between13-40 years old, who came to orthodontic department, college of dentistry. The data collected from orthodontic records were analyzed according to the gender, type of dentition and Angle Classes of malocclusion. Dental Midline shifting was observed on patient with respect to patient’s facial midline. SPSS version 20.0 for windows was used for data analyses using Chi-square Pearson tests and Fischer exact tests. Level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Around half of the total orthodontic patients had dental midline shifting (49.41 %) which was greater in the maxilla (25.89%) than the mandible (23.52%) slightly. The prevalence of dental midline shifting was more in girls (30.2%), with permanent dentition (48.02%) and with Class I (26.28%) and Class II (18.18) malocclusion. Conclusions: The prevalence of maxillary-mandibular dental midlines was seen in around half of orthodontic patients only. Class I patients were found to have maximum dental midline shift.